ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — You've heard of Miracle on 34th Street, but in St. Pete, it's a miracle on Central Avenue.
That's where you'll find a pop-up Christmas experience inside Intermezzo Coffee and Cocktails.
Owner Jarrett Sabatini is finishing up more than 24 hours of decorating inside the shop. They saved the biggest challenge for last, and that's the Christmas tree.
"I think this one is 17-feet tall. We actually had to cut a foot off because it wouldn't fit inside, and it's still sort of bending at the top," said Sabatini.
"Miracle at Mezzo" officially opens on Black Friday. The pop-up concept dates back to 2014 in New York City at a bar named Mace.
"When they were opening their bar, they decided to go all out for the holidays, and every year they have invited other bars to do it with them, and they called it 'Miracle,'" said Sabatini.
Since then, more than 100 bars worldwide have been invited to incorporate the pop-up Christmas theme. Intermezzo is the first in the Tampa Bay area.
"It was huge because these guys are sort of titans of industry, in the cocktail world," said Sabatini. "So to be chosen by them is sort of an honor. We've worked our butts off to do great cocktails and have the integrity."
Besides bringing in Santas of all sizes and abilities, including one that climbs a ladder, Intermezzo's bartenders winterized the entire menu. Every drink comes in a customized glass — some even smell like pine trees.
"A lot of baking spices, cinnamon, a lot of warming comforting flavors, things that just bring you back to Christmas time," said bartender Jessica Lum.
Customers said it's nice to see businesses go that extra mile to capture the spirit of the season, especially when the rest of the year was anything but magical.
"How amazing it feels to walk in and see the tree and be exposed to a Christmas atmosphere when that is not something that we experience in Florida," said Madison Delgado of St. Pete. "They make you feel like they bring the winter snow here even though it's never really going to come."
