Tampa Shopping Tips by tampa_shawn Top 5 Page for this destination

Old Hyde Park Village

All sorts most upscale - also has a variety of restaurants
Not a complete list: Bang and Olufsen, Learning Express Toys, Downtown Dogs, Brooks Brothers
Chicos, Crabtree & Evelyn, Black and White & Restoration Hardware

Regular Hours:
Monday - Saturday 10 am to 7 pm
Sunday 12 pm to 5 pm
Some stores and restaurants have extended hours.

There is a great little restaurant at the end of the street - The Wine and Cheese Exchange

What to buy: Hyde Park Village is located at Swann and Dakota Avenues, just minutes from downtown Tampa. The Village lies in the heart of the historic district of Hyde Park and is easily accessed by I-275, I-75, and Tampa's Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. The Village is just minutes from other area attractions too, including the Tampa Convention Center, The Florida Aquarium, and Ybor City. Parking is available free of charge in three covered parking garages.

What to pay: Ride the In Town Trolley to Hyde Park Village from downtown Tampa for only 50 cents.

Address: Hyde Park

Directions: From Downtown take Brorein to Bayshore Blvd. Rt on Swann. The Village shops begin within 10 blocks. Or take Kennedy Blvd. and turn left on Willow Ave. to W. Swann Avenue. Turn right onto W. Swann Avenue. The Village shops begin within three blocks.

Theme: Women's Clothes

Patel Brothers AND House of Spices: Indian Grocery Stores

If you love Indian food Tampa has several large Indian grocery stores and numerous small ones in Tampa and most are located in the same area on Fowler Avenue. This area also has quite a few Indian clothing, nick knack stores and quite a few Indian Restaurants (there are also some great Vietnamese restaurants in this area too)

The two best grocery stores are:

1) "Patel Brothers" 1251 W Fowler Ave, Tampa - (813) 558-9090 (just East of the Rail Road tracks on corner of Fowler and I275 North)
2) House Of Spices" @ 2005 E Fowler Ave Tampa, FL 33612-5503 - opened December 2010 (less than a mile east on the same side of the street as Patel Brothers) in strip mall

this area is quite congested so keep your eyes open! Both of these stores are new and quite large

What to buy: What to buy (at a fraction of the price of regular grocery stores)...Spices (Traditional indian spices include: Garam Masala, turmeric, saffron, madras curry powder, cumin, coriander)...ginger paste (amazing...! ginger/garlic paste is excellent too), paneer (cheese...one of the few places you will find unless you make your own...), lentils (try the red lentils they are difficult to find in regular grocery stores), beans, rice...

There are also spice mixes for different dishes and frozen indian dishes...if you are new to Indian food try "Butter Chicken" (or murgh makhani) & Palak paneer (spinach and paneer) both of these dishes go over rice...if you don't want to cook rice you can put over couscous (grain that you only need to add boiling water too)

What to pay: Spices, rice and indian food at a fraction of the cost you will pay at a regular restaurant

Address: 1251 W Fowler Ave, Tampa

Directions: Fowler Ave between I275 North and I75 (closest to I275 North)

Phone: (813) 558-9090

Theme: Other

International Plaza: High-end Mall with Great Atmosphere International Plaza Review

This mall is cram packed with high end stores like Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Dillards, , Robb & Stucky Interiors, Aveda, Brookstone, Discovery Channel Store, Harry and David, Kenneth Cole, Kenneth Cole, Montblanc, Helzberg Diamonds, Swarovski....

In fact, I have friends who fly into Tampa just to go to this mall.

If you're not into shopping it is beautifully done and is a great place to get out of the Florida heat and go for a walk and do some people watching. Mall has several indoor playgrounds for children and comfy chairs for men to sit while waiting on the woman.

While you're here be sure to visit the Bay Front Plaza which has some wonderful restaurants and clubs. All of the clubs and restaurants here are pretty hot here in Tampa for the 28 to 45 set.

Mall also has a high end hotel - RENAISSANCE TAMPA HOTEL INTERNATIONAL PLAZA - if you're interested check for special shopping weekend packages

Address: 2223 N. West Shore Blvd. Tampa, FL 33607

Directions: West Shore & Boy Scout Blvd.

Phone: (813) 342-3790

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.shopinternationalplaza.com/

Build*A*Bear: Fun for the Kids

This is a great experience for young children.

Children (or adults who want to relive their childhood) pick out a "shell" and the shell is stuffed

Children then pick out the clothes and other accessories wanted for their new toy.

Its a fun process

The store also offers birthday parties.

This mall also has a children play area (really suited for young children), food court and nice restaurants if you want to make a day out of it. The mall that build a bear is in is a high end mall.

What to pay: About $20 per stuffed toy. Note the bears and stuffed toys are reasonable. The clothes can really add to the bill though.

Address: Located in the International Mall

Directions: 2223 N. West Shore Blvd., Suite 181
Tampa, FL 33607

lower level between Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor

Hours:
Monday -Saturday 10am - 9:00pm, Sunday 11am - 6pm

Phone: 813-348-3855

Theme: Toys and Games

Website: http://www.buildabear.com/

Total Wines: My Favorite Liquor Store

The Walmart of Liquor stores - Absolutely huge with great prices

Each of our stores carries approximately 8,000 different types of wine, 2,000 types of spirits and 1,000 different beers.

The Tampa store also has a nice selection of cigars

What to buy: With this crazy selection I always seem to be trying something new

What to pay: Normal maybe less than other stores - this store is a gem because of the selection

Address: 1720 North Dale Mabry Highway Tampa FL

Directions: Hours
Mon-Thurs 9am-10pm, Fri-Sat 9am-11pm
Sun 11am-9pm

275 to exit 41B North Dale Mabry. Right to North Dale Mabry, 0.2 miles past 275, left at light. Total Wine is in front of Home Depot and Target.

Phone: 813.350.9601

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.totalwine.com/StoreList.aspx?state=FL&store=901

Haslam's Book Store: Amazing Book Store

Said to be the largest new and used book store in Florida. I am not sure if that is true but their selection of travel, history etc books is amazing (they of course have a full range of books)

There prices are also much better than your traditional bookstores and the service is excellent

Has been in Tampa for over 60 yeas and has 30,000 square feet with over 300,000 books.

Monday - Saturday, 10 am to 6:30 pm

What to buy: BOOKS, books on tape, anything involving reading

What to pay: Less than traditional corporate bookstores

Address: 2025 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, Florida 33713

Directions: South on interstate 275,

Exit 23B (old 11) and go straight through the traffic light at the bottom of the ramp. This is 20th Street

Pass 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st AVENUES

RT on Central and the store is right there on the right

Phone: (727) 822-8616

Theme: Books

Website: http://www.haslams.com/index.html

El Exito (success in english): Latin Food Store -La Bodega

Tampa has a large Latin population and we finally have a large super market catering to this market - this is where to go if your looking for something you can't find anywhere else. This store is filled with foods from South and Central America and the Caribbean.

If you are a food lover like me it is also a great place to visit - a wonderful way to try some new foods.

Also has a small restaurant and a bakery

Address: 8401 N Armenia Ave

Directions: Corner of Amenia and Waters in what used to be an Eckerds Pharmacy

Other Contact: Open 7 AM to 9 PM

Phone: 813-263-0864

Theme: Other

Bill Jacksons: Adventure Sporting Store

A very large shop with a great staff. Has an indoor pool that offers scuba diving and kayaking classes. Also has regular outdoor events and trips. A great way to get involved in the area.

Store Hours
Monday - Friday: 10am to 9pm
Saturday: 9:30am to 6pm
Sunday: 10am to 5pm

What to buy: Clothes and gear for
Backpacking
Climbing >>
Fishing >>
Hunting >>
Inline Skating >>
Kayaking >>
Metal Detecting >>
Scuba Diving >>
Snow Skiing

What to pay: Normal

Note the shop also has activities for the sports above

Address: 9501 U.S. 19 NorthPinellas Park, Florida 33782

Directions: From Tampa Take I 275 across the bay (12 miles)
Gandy Blvd N (exit 28 heading towards Pinellas Park) (1.5 miles)
US 19 N to Clearwater (1.7 miles)

Its a very big building in the woods on your right - a bit hard to see but there is a big wooden sign

Phone: 727.576.4169

Theme: Sporting Goods

Website: http://www.billjacksons.com/

Various: Citrus Park Town Center Mall

The 1.1 million square foot regional mall is located northwest of downtown
Tampa just west of Veterans Expressway at Gunn Highway. The design of the
mall features a "Main Street U.S.A." concept with dramatic store fronts,
splashing fountains, an abundance of natural light and outdoor seating at
certain restaurants.

Includes: Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Harold's, Williams
Sonoma, Brooks Brothers, Gap, Banana Republic, Talbots, Ann Taylor, Gymboree,
Eddie Bauer, Golf America, Godiva, The Sharper Image, The Disney Store and
Warner Bros. Studio Store.

Has a 90,000 square foot, twenty screen theater all with stadium seating.

What to buy: Various

There are a tons of other stores across the mall - like Bed Bath and Beyond, Michaels etc

Address: 8073 Citrus Park Town Center Tampa, FL 33625

Directions: Veterans Express way North - off at Citrus Park Exit

OR Hillsbrougho to North Sheldon 4.3 miles

Other Contact: 8073 Citrus Park Town Center Tam

Phone: (813) 920-2774

Theme: Other