Ovation was built by JMC Communities, an award-winning St. Petersburg-based developer specializing in luxurious waterfront communities, which last year celebrated its 30th year in the Florida real estate development industry. JMC has enjoyed much success over the past three decades, providing more than 4,000 luxury homes to the state of Florida.
“We are proud to have these two prestigious retailers be among the first to call Ovation home,” said Michael Cheezem, CEO of JMC Communities. “It is a testament to our original grand design concept—a complete urban tropical community offering a new taste of luxury combined with the downtown lifestyle in St. Petersburg.”
Bernie’s & Son has been a staple of downtown St. Petersburg for decades and previously was located on the site where Ovation now stands. The fine jeweler officially opens in its new home in the building’s southeast corner along Beach Drive on Sept. 1. Bernie’s will continue to showcase hand-chosen, hand-crafted, well-researched items from all over the world, plus select vintage pieces, as well as some area exclusives, including a Hawaiian designer with exotic one-of-a-kind creations.
With ideal proximity to St. Petersburg’s Museum of Fine Arts, Salvador Dali Museum, Florida Craftsmen Gallery and the city’s other cultural venues, Mindy Solomon Gallery opens Oct. 3 and will feature contemporary, two-dimensional and functional 3D art, with a high concentration of sculptural ceramics. Solomon has an extensive background in art education, curatorship and cultural boards and hand-selects each piece from a cross section of established, renowned and emerging artists from across the globe.
Other retail tenants will include the Ovation Sales Center, which will move from its current site August 25th and locate next door to Mindy Solomon Gallery.