Brian Mahar



Observers of Tampa Bay’s local music scene are well aware that downtown St. Pete’s 600 Block is changing.

Last year we saw Local 662 shut its doors amind rising rents, which put the status of other local haunts in question. Record shop Daddy Kool and local venue Fubar seem to be doing fine, but now we know a little more about the fate of the State Theatre.

The historic, 8,604 square-foot building located at 687 Central Ave. is apparently for sale — and it can be yours for $1.9 million.

Calls to State Theatre’s general manager Kendra Marolf and listing broker Matthew Bradley have yet to be returned, but Daddy Kool owner Tony Rifugiato— who co-owns State Theatre — said he would be able to provide more detail tomorrow after he gets through show prep today (Rifugiato’s No Clubs promotion company is busy with a sold-out show in Ybor City).

The news comes after a months-long effort by State Theatre to rectify multiple fire code violations including outdated sprinkler and alarm systems, subpar handrails, emergency lights, doors and more. An October 2017 story in the Tampa Bay Times said that the infractions led St. Pete fire officials to slash the nearly 100-year-old building’s capacity from about 700 to less than 400.

How long the building has been for sale is not yet clear.

According to the Times, the violations forced several State Theatre concerts to move venues last year. Marolf estimated that the moves cost the venue "some $200,000 in revenue."

We’ll add more details as they become available. See sale notes from the listing below.

PRICE REDUCTION!: Great Opportunity in a prime location in Downtown St. Pete off of Central Ave. Property type uses can be converted to office/retail/flexible. Building has a 2nd floor balcony with 2,052 Sqft. New owner could expend the balcony through the entire building creating another full floor giving the premise over 12,500 Sqft. Owner is open to all offer types as well as leasing.



