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Shopping
Eye
great buys in Old Hyde Park Village, an open-air shopping center
located within the heart of one of Tampa's older neighborhoods, go
global at International Plaza, shop and then drop into great
restaurants at Westshore Plaza, ride a carousel in Westfield, search
for bargains at Ellenton, or find original art and handmade crafts at
area farmer's markets.
So whatever the reason, whatever the season, shops, malls and retail
sites throughout Tampa Bay are filled with an amazing range of things
to buy. Major shopping malls are plentiful, as are smaller collections
of specialized stores located in unique and distinct neighborhoods.
Antique shops, vintage clothing stores, weekend markets that feature
handmade jewelry and crafts, and most major chains round out the area's
ever-changing, ever-expanding retail environment.
Upscale Shopping in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay's transition into high-end retail began in 1998
with the opening of Sak’s Fifth Avenue at WestShore Plaza. The opening
of International Plaza in 2001 further put the Bay Area on the map as a
world-class retail market.
With anchors Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, those in search of
quality, luxury and high fashion can find the perfect in Tampa Bay. In
addition to its department stores, approximately half of International
Plaza’s 200 specialty shops are new to the area, including Tiffany
& Co., Louis Vuitton, Nicole Miller, Betsy Johnson, Cole Haan, J.
Crew, Christian Dior, Charles Jourdan Paris and Jessica McClintock.
Outdoor Shopping
Those
looking to combine their "shop-a-holic” and “foodie” tendencies will
find respite from sprawling malls and chain restaurants in the historic
neighborhoods of Hyde Park and Ybor City.
One of Tampa Bay’s oldest and most glamorous neighborhoods, Hyde
Park is a historic district made up of multi-million dollar mansions
and bungalow-style masterpieces. Nestled beneath towering oak trees is
Old Hyde Park Village, an eclectic collection of specialty shops - from
high-end, designer boutiques to one-of-a kind local shops full of
unique trinkets and fun treasures. Just a turn around the corner from
the Village is South Howard Avenue, or SoHo, a cornucopia of dining
delights. Cruising up “Restaurant Row,” some 35 independent eateries
can be found from steakhouses and tapas bars to Thai and French
cuisine. Visitors can nosh with names like Bacchus, Ceviche,
Sidebern’s, Bella’s and Ciccio & Tony’s.
Strolling the brick-lined streets of former “Cigar Capital of the
World” Ybor City, vintage clothing stores, art galleries, coffee
houses, cafes, bistros and nightclubs can be found here. In addition to
antique furniture, gargoyle statues and handcrafted Spanish tiles,
hand-rolled cigars can still be purchased in the old brick buildings of
this National Historic Landmark District. The Latin Quarter’s latest
development, Centro Ybor, offers shopping, dining and entertainment
with stores like Metropolitan Deluxe and Urban Outfitters and
restaurants such as Big City Tavern, Samurai Blue, Barley Hoppers and
DISH. Helping visitors to work up an appetite at Centro Ybor are movie
theaters, GameWorks interactive video arcade and the Improv Comedy Club.
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