Something new has come to Tampa and you may have heard the chatter. In downtown Tampa near other popular sites like Sparkman Wharf and the Tampa Aquarium is a new grocery store. This grocery store isn’t like all the others out there, everything in it is made of felt! Tampa Fresh Foods is only here for a month so hurry down to see it as soon as you can.
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What is Tampa Fresh Foods
Tampa Fresh Foods is a temporary art exhibit set up in downtown Tampa. It is completely free to visit and fun to explore for even the youngest kids. I brought my one year old and he had a blast touching all the products. I loved that nothing was breakable.
The entire store is a life-like, artsy, completely immersive art installation. Lucy Sparrow, the artist, has spent the last two years preparing for this huge project. When you walk into the grocery store you walk into the produce section with crates full of plush, adorable fruits and vegetables with smiley faces. Then you look up to shelves upon shelves of felt goods, over 50,000 of them to be exact.
And just like a regular store, every item in the store is available for purchase.
I Spy Tampa
As you walk along the aisles admiring the intricate artwork on the boxes of cereal, household cleaners and candy bars you may notice some Tampa specific items as well. In the produce section keep an eye out for the oranges and key limes. There is a Delicatessen where you can build your own cuban sandwich with sliced meats, cheeses and cuban bread.
At the other corner of the store is a seafood counter where you can find amazingly intricate (and cute) lobsters, fish filets, prawns and so much more. Lastly there is an entire humidor full of cuban cigars made of felt that can be purchased individually or in a hand painted box.
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About Lucy Sparrow
This young artist, Lucy Sparrow, has worked with felt from a very young age. She really got her start in London with her felt Cornershop installation in 2014. Later Lucy was commissioned by BBC to make replicas of the crown jewels in felt. She really came to a worldwide stage when she made a felt operating room for a huge art exhibit in Miami. Known as “sewyoursoul” on social media you can follow along on her next projects.
Lucy and her team sew each item in the exhibit and then Lucy herself does all the handlettering. While you are walking around the art exhibit keep an eye out for Lucy Sparrow, she is in town and often at the store signing products and saying hello.
Visiting Tampa Fresh Foods Art Exhibit
Where: 1050 Water St, Tampa, FL 33602
When: 11 – 8pm Everyday From January 20th – February 20th
Cost: Free
Parking: East Cumberland Parking Garage
Have a great time exploring the Tampa Fresh Foods exhibit, It is not huge but there is a lot to look at. I would plan on spending about an hour or less while there. After you’re done don’t forget to head over to Sparkman Wharf for lunch or dinner!
