After months of delay and a courtroom detour, Drift, a new courtyard bar planned for the Sundial shopping complex in downtown St. Petersburg, finally looks like it is back on track. The open-air concept is part of a broader overhaul of the plaza’s central courtyard and will be operated by the same team bringing Forbici Modern Italian to the property. Fresh plan-review activity suggests the project has moved into a more active permitting phase.
Plan review shows work is active
Recent plan-review filings indicate Drift is no longer just a sketch on paper, according to What Now. The documents identify the Sundial courtyard as the future home of a covered bar run by the Forbici team and list formal submissions for both interior and site work. What Now also points out that Sundial is located at 153 2nd Ave N in downtown St. Petersburg and notes the outlet reached out to Next Level Brands founder Jeff Gigante for comment.
Legal roadblock and settlement
Before shovels could really hit the ground, the courtyard overhaul ran into a legal snag. Florida 2005 Theaters LLC, the ownership entity behind the AMC Sundial 12, sued over the renovation plans, arguing that the proposed changes clashed with an older operating agreement. Local reporting shows that the dispute dragged from 2024 into 2025, until a settlement finally cleared the path for a courtyard bar, as documented by St. Pete Catalyst. Paradise Ventures CEO Michael Connor told the Catalyst the vision for Drift is a “first‑class” venue that lines up with Sundial’s push in a more upscale direction.
Who’s building it
Next Level Brands, the Tampa-based hospitality group behind Forbici Modern Italian, is slated to design, build and operate Drift as a separate courtyard concept, according to local coverage. WUSF and other outlets report that the same team is also renovating the former Sea Salt space upstairs to house the new Forbici location. Forbici’s own website currently lists a St. Pete spot as “Coming Soon,” signaling the brand’s direct role in Sundial’s latest chapter.
Timeline and what to expect
A hard opening date for Drift has not been announced. However, What Now reports that plan-review filings show work is progressing and that Forbici was targeting a late April debut. The outlet notes that Jeff Gigante was contacted about Drift but was not immediately available for comment. Whether the courtyard bar and Forbici upstairs launch together will ultimately depend on the usual suspects: permitting, inspections and build-out timelines.
Why the lawsuit mattered
The legal fight was more than just paperwork. It froze construction and raised questions about what kinds of ground-floor uses would be allowed in the courtyard, including canopies and bar service, according to reporting by St. Pete Catalyst. Circuit Court records and local coverage show that a settlement signed on July 8, 2025, by Judge Thomas Ramsberger ended the immediate legal threat and spelled out parameters for the courtyard project, per WUSF. The agreement allows a curated, limited-size bar concept while preserving protections for the theater’s operations.
What locals can expect
Local coverage describes Drift as roughly a 1,500-square-foot covered bar tucked under the Sundial canopy, with about 26 bar seats and around 50 lounge seats arranged nearby. The layout is expected to leave room for small performances and casual gatherings rather than wall-to-wall tables. WiLD 94.1 reports that the concept will feature limited-edition collectible glasses and light live music, aiming for an atmosphere that is polished but still relaxed. For downtown regulars, the project represents another attempt to pull evening crowds back into Sundial’s courtyard once the dust and construction fencing finally clear.
