NOVA History

INSPIRATIONS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

NOVA Event Space & Art Lounge, is the brainchild of St. Petersburg native Michael S. Novilla. After graduating from the USF MBA program in 1993, Michael worked for 12 years, hands on, learning every facet of building and neighborhood redesign. He slowly assembled an eclectic neighborhood of run-down buildings which he and his team painstakingly renovated. Blood, sweat, scrapes, tears and a lot of tough love later they restored to beauty one of St. Petersburg's most desirable and incredible of neighborhoods, Crescent Lake & Park. However, like any true Entrepreneur, Michael craves a creative outlet and after a decade of renovating and playing landlord, which he's written a screenplay about, he was desperate for another venture.

Michael gathered the idea for NOVA Event Space while traveling through over 30 countries on 5 continents to some of the world’s most renowned art galleries - from the Musée d'Orsay to the Tate, to the Guggenheim and countless others. While he was off enjoying spectacular rooftop lounges, cavernous night clubs, raves in ancient castles, market street bazaars, modern discos, mountain top adventures and crazy Aboriginal festivals the concepts and ideas he encountered percolated deeper and deeper into his mind. With these sights and experiences compelling his creative itch, it occurred to Michael that his home town of St. Petersburg was just the city to support such a unique world-class destination. Thus was born his notion of NOVA Event Space: a modern art gallery meets swanky lounge meets world-class event venue.

BEFORE NOVA WAS NOVA

The building, located at 535 Dr. M. L. King, Jr. Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida (Directions) started out as Slap Happy's Five & Dime in the 1920’s and after being used by a local Pharmacy with a soda counter was known as the 'Pet Planet' in its most recent incarnation (Michael's well loved and respected father Michael F. was coincidentally a pharmacist at nearby Allendale Drugs). Michael and his dogs Maxwell and Malcolm were regular customers at the Pet Planet, and when he heard the building was for sale, he knew he’d found the home for his new 'pet' project, though it was in 'ruff' shape. So after a long, arduous design and build out, where Michael and his incredible team including Michael Mitchell spent 30 back and mind breaking months giving 'birth' to this breathtakingly gorgeous project. NOVA Event Space now boasts the original 8'' red clay block walls, 18 foot ceilings, Brazilian hardwood floors, twin Italian wrought-iron staircases, second story VIP areas and over 7,000 square feet inside and 4,000 sq. ft. outside of wedding, reception, party and event space. 

Soon you will experience for yourself that there is nothing else like NOVA Event Space in the entire Tampa Bay region, an experience that usually begins and ends with 'WOW'!

Community, Client & Guest Testimonials