Sunshine City Paint Lounge, Art Studio Opening Soon In St. Pete's Edge District

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A new paint-and-sip lounge and art studio is preparing to open in St. Petersburg’s Edge District, with owner Julianne Gioscio aiming for a June debut at 909 Central Ave.

Gioscio, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who moved to St. Petersburg in 2023, described Sunshine City Paint as a locally built concept that combines guided classes with a more casual drop-in experience for all ages.

And it all ties in with her childhood dreams.

“The first thing that I said when I wanted to grow up to be when I was, like, five was an artist,” she told Patch. “So this is kind of bringing it full circle.”

Until now, though, her career has taken a very different path.

Gioscio served five years in the military as an aircraft mechanic, and as a civilian, she continued in that direction, working as an avionics technician for companies like Honeywell.

Eventually, she picked up art again as an adult, but as a hobby at first. Painting was the medium she returned to most easily.

“It was like muscle memory,” Gioscio said.

When the military brought her and her then-husband to the Tampa Bay area, she was excited to discover St. Petersburg, a city known for its arts community.

“It’s a really cute place, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” she said.

She’s long dreamed of one day opening her own business, either in the culinary field or the arts.

Thanks to “some luck and strategy” in the stock market, Gioscio can open her first business, Sunshine City Paint, sooner than planned.

She felt connected with the energy of downtown St. Pete and knew that Central Avenue in the Edge District was the right home for her new business.

“It’s the perfect fit, because there’s just a little bit for everyone. There’s tourists and locals. I feel like this is where they both kind of combine,” Gioscio said.

Sunshine City Paint will offer family-focused programming in the morning and adult-oriented classes later in the day, she said.

The studio’s daytime hours will offer children and their caregivers a creative indoor space, and she plans to keep it affordable enough for repeat visits.

“I want it to be consistent for their schedules, which I think is really important for kids of all ages,” Gioscio said. “My nephew, he has autism, and so consistency is really important for him. So, that’s something I want to offer all families.”

For adults, the business is expected to include guided painting classes, open-canvas time and a small bar area.

She’s spent the past year developing the business, registering it with the state last summer, well before leasing her Edge District space in April.

Gioscio introduced the concept at local markets, connecting with potential customers in person well before she had a brick-and-mortar location.

“I’ve gotten a lot of excitement, which is really encouraging to me,” she said. “I feel like whenever you put yourself out there for anything, you just don’t know how everyone’s gonna react, and sometimes, people are just intimidated by something like this. They’re like, ‘I’m not an artist’ or ‘I don’t know how to paint.’ But that’s not the point, and I’ve seen even when I’m set up at a booth, that people might be anxious when they first sit down with me, but after, they sit back and see what they’ve made, and they have a whole different reaction, a whole different sense of confidence.”

The studio’s opening timeline depends on city permitting, she said. Those interested in learning more about the business and its opening date should follow Sunshine City Paint on social media.

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