After first opening in 1926, the Barlas family permanently closed Coney Island Sandwich Shop in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Since then, there have been a couple attempts to re-open the iconic restaurant, but now the Barlas family is ready to become landlords and give someone else a shot.
Located at 250 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N, the 2,080-square-foot space is currently available for lease, with an asking price of $40 a square-foot per year (or roughly $6,933 a month), says the listing. According to the listing, the owners restaurant has spent roughly $150,000 to get the space up to code, as well as new renovations, including two new ADA restrooms with ADA fixtures, new flooring, plumbing and electric.
“Part of what made Coney Island special was that people could come in, get a good meal and not break the bank,” said Justin Barlas, property owner and fourth-generation member of the Barlas family in a statement. “We’d love to see another locally owned restaurant that brings that same energy to the neighborhood, whether it’s a diner, a fresh take on the Coney Island concept or something entirely new.”
Although the space has undergone an almost complete facelift, the restaurant still includes the original Coney Island lunch counter and stools.
“This year marks 100 years since my grandfather first opened Coney Island, and it’s incredible to think about how much of St. Petersburg’s history is tied to this place,” added Barlas. “It was a place where you could find a former mayor sitting alongside construction workers and families who had been coming in for generations. We’d love to see that sense of community continue.”
The listing agent is Betsy Shafer of Colliers.
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This article appears in Oct. 22 – 28, 2026.
