I was at an appointment in Tampa off Hillsborough and Armenia and wanted a quick lunch. I had driven by the Pickford’s Sundries building coming to appointment in the area before and loved the old school art deco style. So when Google suggested it as a place to grab lunch I figured I see what it actually is. And even though I wasn’t here in Tampa Bay in the 1950’s or so, I felt like I had been transported there instantly when I walked in. Check out the front of the building and see if its something you’ve driven by before:

Or maybe you remember what it looked like before they fixed it up, since it sat around untouched for a long time:

I really dig the classic sign but wait until you head inside to see the real original gem of the past. Directly to the right when you walk in is the original menu with the original prices. So you’re looking at meals priced in cents, not dollars. Yes, an egg, toast, coffee, AND bacon was only .45 cents!

Next you’ll see a picture of the original owner and operator known as Uncle Frank.

The current proprietors bought the building from Uncle Frank’s family who had held onto the store completely as-is, even though it had been closed since sometime in the 70’s, I believe. So when the new owners bought it, they also got a museum’s worth of old and original products that are the epitome of Americana. Yes, the products that you see are original, old, and in the original packaging too! Check out this sunglasses display:

Here’s an original Pepsi cooler:

There are old fountain spouts, fans, cameras, record players, and radios too:

There are lots of original medicine, hair, and shaving products in an old apothecary display:

And there are other awesome antiques on display like this phone that was the store’s actual phone, typewriter, and even cooler are the actual camping cooler and swim fins and mask that were part of the stores inventory. The new owner told me that those were quite popular at Pickford’s because back in the day Pickford’s was essentially the edge of town before you headed to the lakes or beaches. So plenty of travelers would stop in and get everything they needed for a full day at the beach or the park.

Oh, and its also a lunch counter, coffee bar, and more! I had the chicken salad wrap and it was better than my own chicken salad, and mine’s REALLY good so that’s saying something. Check out the dining room and a second lounge with a bar and fireplace.

There’s also an original pinball machine, and an original refrigerator that once kept chocolate cold, in the days before stores themselves were air conditioned.

So if you’re looking for a true blast from the past swing by Pickford’s Sundries in Tampa and stop in for a cafe or a bite. It will definitely take you to the American Graffiti days. It’s also proudly LGBTQ and Asian owned and pet friendly, and I’m proud to hopefully help support them in keeping awesome old things alive.