M
ichael Saunders & Company will open a 3,000‑sq‑ft office at 400 Central Avenue, expanding its Gulf Coast presence and boosting one of downtown St. Petersburg’s most anticipated projects. The move coincides with The Residences at 400 Central welcoming its first residents this month. John Catsimatidis Sr., founder of Red Apple Group, praised the firm’s early support, noting that Saunders & Co. will now serve as the tower’s flagship office.
The new tenant makes Saunders & Co. the fourth major commercial occupant of 400 Central. Earlier this year, Dynasty Financial Partners secured a 45,000‑sq‑ft lease for its global headquarters, one of the largest office deals in recent St. Pete history. Other confirmed tenants include Volta Wine & Provisions, which will open a 2,000‑sq‑ft retail wine shop and bar, and a 3,000‑sq‑ft PNC Bank branch on the ground floor.
Until the new space is ready, Saunders & Co. will operate from an interim location at 449 Central Avenue starting in March 2026. “Our next chapter in St. Petersburg will take place at 400 Central,” said founder and CEO Michael Saunders. “We look forward to welcoming our clients there this spring.”
The Residences at 400 Central occupies an entire city block on Central Avenue and has achieved several key milestones. The 46‑story tower houses 301 luxury condos, ground‑floor retail and restaurants, Class A office space, and an exclusive Sky Observatory on the top floor. A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy for the first 25 floors was issued last week, and closing for the initial condo buyers is slated for the end of the year.
400 Central is shaping downtown St. Pete’s next growth phase, reflecting a broader shift toward national firms, luxury brands, and high‑end residential towers in the urban core. Saunders & Co.’s addition further cements the tower’s role as a new hub for business, hospitality, and residential life on Central Avenue.
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