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Orange Blossom Trading Co. located at 1702 N Nebraska Ave. in Ybor City, Florida.
The ribbon cutting ceremony for Orange Blossom Trading Company, located at 1702 N Nebraska Ave., happens today, Wednesday, April 17, at noon, with regular hours immediately following.
On social media, Orange Blossom calls itself a “gift shop, art stop, and corner store.”
Roughly 75% of the products will be Florida made, most from the Tampa Bay area but some coming from Orlando and other surrounding Florida cities. Offerings will include candles by Spooky Mama, taxidermy oddities by Sphynxsess, crocheted items by Mama Crochetti, soaps, handmade jewelry, and vintage wares. While there are currently around 25 vendors, the goal is for an eventual total of around 40 vendors.
The inspiration behind Orange Blossom Trading Company started in Lutz, where co-founder Chelsea Glade opened a similar concept a couple of years ago after finishing Hillsborough Community College’s Entrepreneurship Program. Glade is a true artist with many interests, the foremost being pyrography, a craft she plans to showcase in the shop via an in-house studio where patrons can observe her artfully burning designs into wood.
The logo and name were carefully chosen by Glade as an homage to her home state that has inspired her work throughout her artistic career. The reasoning behind the concept's name needs little explaining, but the butterfly on the logo has particular meaning. The Atala butterfly is native to Florida, with some spiritualists believing it represents renewal and revival in the face of adversity, which is perfect symbolism for the current state of Ybor City.
Several long-established businesses have found themselves priced out of rent or unable to maintain sales given the post-pandemic climate, but Glade hopes to be part of the next generation that aims to bring back the vibe that Ybor had in its heyday. The shop shares nearby real estate with some businesses that have all played a part in maintaining a little bit of Ybor’s weird and artsy vibe, including Coastal Film Lab, La Setima Club, and The Commodore comedy theater.
The concept is helmed by Glade, but Ashley Dudney, a familiar face in Ybor City’s entrepreneurial community, is also involved in the project. He maintains that he wants to be more in the background and let Glade do her thing, but you’ll be able to find hats and shoes from his neighboring ‘Til Death Hat Co., though it should be mentioned that they’ll be of a more casual nature than his typical offerings. There are also talks of creating an in-house, namesake brand that will offer casual t-shirts and other products to be determined.
Future plans for the space remain hypothetical, but both Glade and Dudney shared interest in curating a lounge vibe in the back that could potentially lead to a place for patrons to relax with an N/A beverage and possibly even CBD offerings. There will also be some “corner store” items like local baked goods, hot sauces and grab and go items, though these are long-term goals for the concept.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, the hours for Orange Blossom Trading Company will be Wednesday- Saturday from 11-7 pm and Sunday from 12 -4 pm. The shop is also one of more than 40 vendors and artists participating in the Ybor Arts Tour on Thursday, April 18 beginning at 5 p.m.
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