Tiger Dust, a new pinball arcade and gift shop, celebrates grand opening in Seminole Heights this weekend

There are only two non-funeral businesses in Tampa Bay that greet customers with an open casket—and one is celebrating its grand opening this weekend.

Tiger Dust, owned and operated by the same folks that run Ybor City oddity store Dysfunctional Grace, brings all things whacky and vintage to Seminole Heights. The new pinball arcade and gift shop is now open at 4222 N Florida Ave. in Tampa.

From old books to vintage Playboy magazines, animal skulls, creepy dolls and long-forgotten toys—Tiger Dust is a one-stop shop for all of your eclectic knick knack needs. And although Tiger Dust’s doors are already open with limited operating hours, the gift shop’s grand opening celebration takes place on Saturday, March 19 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Co-owner Liz Furlong tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay in an email that Tiger Dust’s debut party this weekend will feature a one-legged, face painting drag queen and promotional swag bags with goodies from Tampa Bay businesses like The Far Forest, All Y'all Yoga, Heights Meat Market, Luftka, Dysfunctional Grace Co. and of course, Tiger Dust.

Blind Tiger will be providing all sorts of beverages and pastries, while Heights Meat Market will be grilling and slinging kangaroo tacos. Yeah, you heard that right. Crikey.

Make sure you hold onto your iced latte and exotic tacos tightly because there will also be a Samara (the faceless girl from “The Ring” movies) look-alike being “being weird and creepy,” according to Furlong.
The Tiger Dust website states that its revolving line-up of vintage pinball machines and arcade cabinets are set to “free play” so guests can “give them a try and then tell your rich uncle about it so he can buy them for his rumpus room!”

And if you scroll down to the bottom of its website, there's a huge list of the different types of wares and oddities Tiger Dust sells—which range from “wet and dry specimens" to “creepy dolls that are probably possessed.”

Tiger Dust is now open from 11 a.m.- p.m. Monday-Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. on Sundays, although its hours may be subject to change during its first few weeks open.

For more information on Seminole Heights’ newest oddity shop and its latest operating hours, visit its Facebook and Instagram at @tigerdustheights.