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‘Zola’: All the Tampa Bay filming sites we saw in the Florida-based film

By on Fri, Jul 2, 2021 at 4:14 pm

The many corners of Tampa Bay are the backdrop of "Zola," the new film inspired by the viral Twitter thread from A’Ziah “Zola” King in 2015.

The movie is not only based on a true story that happened over an intense, wacky 48-hour period in Tampa Bay, it was also filmed here in the last months of 2018.

King, who spoke to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay ahead of the movie’s release, said she and director Janicza Bravo had the same goal in mind: to make the movie authentic to Tampa, to Florida, to 2015 and to her life at the time.

Bravo also said filming in the Tampa Bay area was essential to telling #TheStory through film.

Through roughly 90 minutes, there are about 19 recognizable Tampa Bay area landmarks. The following filming sites were featured in the film but don’t necessarily show where King’s 2015 trip took place.—Chelsea Zukowski

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The Jesus Saves Sign The sign is on I-4 next to the Florida State Fair Grounds. be>Photo via Florida State Fair Grounds/Facebook

The Jesus Saves Sign

The sign is on I-4 next to the Florida State Fair Grounds. be>Photo via Florida State Fair Grounds/Facebook
Atlantis Gentlemen’s Club Three local adult entertainment clubs are featured prominently in the film, as Zola (Taylour Paige) and Stefani make their way around the area to dance for cash. Atlantis Gentlemen’s Club in Largo notably is the setting for a scene showing Zola’s skill with the pole on a mirror-backdropped stage. Scores Tampa and Players Club Tampa also have quick scenes of women dancing on their stages. Photo via A24

Atlantis Gentlemen’s Club

Three local adult entertainment clubs are featured prominently in the film, as Zola (Taylour Paige) and Stefani make their way around the area to dance for cash. Atlantis Gentlemen’s Club in Largo notably is the setting for a scene showing Zola’s skill with the pole on a mirror-backdropped stage. Scores Tampa and Players Club Tampa also have quick scenes of women dancing on their stages.
Photo via A24
The Ranch House Grill Keep an eye out in the early scenes of the film when Zola and Stefani first meet and exchange numbers while Zola is working at a ranch-themed restaurant. Unfortunately, The Ranch House Grill on Gandy Boulevard in Tampa permanently closed in 2019. Photo via Google Maps

The Ranch House Grill

Keep an eye out in the early scenes of the film when Zola and Stefani first meet and exchange numbers while Zola is working at a ranch-themed restaurant. Unfortunately, The Ranch House Grill on Gandy Boulevard in Tampa permanently closed in 2019.
Photo via Google Maps
Publix at Dolphin Village Shopping Center No, Zola and the rest don’t go inside Publix to grab Pub Subs, but the bright green sign of Florida’s favorite grocery store chain makes a cameo in the film. Specifically, the Publix and shopping plaza across from the St. Pete Beach access and the Dolphin Beach Resort. One hilarious shot shows Derek running through the Publix parking lot. Photo via A24/Twitter

Publix at Dolphin Village Shopping Center

No, Zola and the rest don’t go inside Publix to grab Pub Subs, but the bright green sign of Florida’s favorite grocery store chain makes a cameo in the film. Specifically, the Publix and shopping plaza across from the St. Pete Beach access and the Dolphin Beach Resort. One hilarious shot shows Derek running through the Publix parking lot.
Photo via A24/Twitter
Players Club Tampa Three local adult entertainment clubs are featured prominently in the film, as Zola (Taylour Paige) and Stefani make their way around the area to dance for cash. Atlantis Gentlemen’s Club in Largo notably is the setting for a scene showing Zola’s skill with the pole on a mirror-backdropped stage. Scores Tampa and Players Club Tampa also have quick scenes of women dancing on their stages. Photo via A24

Players Club Tampa

Three local adult entertainment clubs are featured prominently in the film, as Zola (Taylour Paige) and Stefani make their way around the area to dance for cash. Atlantis Gentlemen’s Club in Largo notably is the setting for a scene showing Zola’s skill with the pole on a mirror-backdropped stage. Scores Tampa and Players Club Tampa also have quick scenes of women dancing on their stages.
Photo via A24
Westshore Grand TampaThe Westshore Grand Tampa’s tropical atrium and one of its suites are also stars of Zola. The hotel on Kennedy Boulevard is the first luxury stop for Zola and Stefani after X puts them both on Backpage, a classified ad website that was shut down in 2018 after authorities said it was promoting sex trafficking. In the film, Zola starts to piece together who X really is (Stefani’s pimp) and convinces Stefani to start charging more if she’s going to have sex for cash. Photo via A24

Westshore Grand Tampa

The Westshore Grand Tampa’s tropical atrium and one of its suites are also stars of Zola. The hotel on Kennedy Boulevard is the first luxury stop for Zola and Stefani after X puts them both on Backpage, a classified ad website that was shut down in 2018 after authorities said it was promoting sex trafficking. In the film, Zola starts to piece together who X really is (Stefani’s pimp) and convinces Stefani to start charging more if she’s going to have sex for cash.
Photo via A24
Alpine Liquors The self-proclaimed “Tampa’s oldest liquor store” plays a key role in Zola as the place where Stefani’s (Riley Keough) boyfriend Derek (Nicholas Braun) befriends another man staying at the same hotel down the street. The scene spends several minutes inside Alpine Liquors showing its wall-covering shelves of colorful bottles and its “check out our new craft beer selection” sign. Photo via Google Maps

Alpine Liquors

The self-proclaimed “Tampa’s oldest liquor store” plays a key role in Zola as the place where Stefani’s (Riley Keough) boyfriend Derek (Nicholas Braun) befriends another man staying at the same hotel down the street. The scene spends several minutes inside Alpine Liquors showing its wall-covering shelves of colorful bottles and its “check out our new craft beer selection” sign.
Photo via Google Maps
Royal Palm Motel The Royal Palm Motel on Nebraska Avenue in Tampa plays a starring role in Zola. The motel is the group’s first stop when they get into town and the place where they leave Derek while X (Colman Domingo) takes Zola and Stefani to go dance at nearby clubs. Tampa natives will recognize the motel’s yellow and green color scheme as the group drops off their things in the second story “suite.” Photo via A24

Royal Palm Motel

The Royal Palm Motel on Nebraska Avenue in Tampa plays a starring role in Zola. The motel is the group’s first stop when they get into town and the place where they leave Derek while X (Colman Domingo) takes Zola and Stefani to go dance at nearby clubs. Tampa natives will recognize the motel’s yellow and green color scheme as the group drops off their things in the second story “suite.”
Photo via A24
Scores Tampa Three local adult entertainment clubs are featured prominently in the film, as Zola (Taylour Paige) and Stefani make their way around the area to dance for cash. Atlantis Gentlemen’s Club in Largo notably is the setting for a scene showing Zola’s skill with the pole on a mirror-backdropped stage. Scores Tampa and Players Club Tampa also have quick scenes of women dancing on their stages. Photo via A24

Scores Tampa

Three local adult entertainment clubs are featured prominently in the film, as Zola (Taylour Paige) and Stefani make their way around the area to dance for cash. Atlantis Gentlemen’s Club in Largo notably is the setting for a scene showing Zola’s skill with the pole on a mirror-backdropped stage. Scores Tampa and Players Club Tampa also have quick scenes of women dancing on their stages.
Photo via A24
Dolphin Beach Resort St. Pete Beach resort’s classic Florida vibes are on full display in Zola, especially its kitschy and vibrant room and lobby color scheming. The Dolphin Beach Resort is also where the intense standoff scene happens between Zola, X, Derek and Stefani and Tampa gangsters Derek befriended at their motel. Photo via A24

Dolphin Beach Resort

St. Pete Beach resort’s classic Florida vibes are on full display in Zola, especially its kitschy and vibrant room and lobby color scheming. The Dolphin Beach Resort is also where the intense standoff scene happens between Zola, X, Derek and Stefani and Tampa gangsters Derek befriended at their motel.
Photo via A24
The big, dumb, Confederate flag off I-75 Because how else were "Zola" filmmakers supposed to hammer home the fact that the movie takes place in the South? Photo via Google Maps

The big, dumb, Confederate flag off I-75

Because how else were "Zola" filmmakers supposed to hammer home the fact that the movie takes place in the South?
Photo via Google Maps
This Gulf-front luxury rental in Treasure Island features prominently towards the end of the film. Zola’s sordid odyssey with Stefani takes a last dark turn with Derek getting so upset with the whole situation that just transpired that he runs and jumps from the home’s second floor kitchen area. We only get to see that part of the stunning abode, but it is available to rent for a cool $1,761 a night. Photo via A24
This Gulf-front luxury rental in Treasure Island features prominently towards the end of the film. Zola’s sordid odyssey with Stefani takes a last dark turn with Derek getting so upset with the whole situation that just transpired that he runs and jumps from the home’s second floor kitchen area. We only get to see that part of the stunning abode, but it is available to rent for a cool $1,761 a night.
Photo via A24
St. Peter’s Apostolic Church Another Tampa spot with quick a cameo is the New St. Peter’s Apostolic Church—and it's not the only "Jesus Saves" sign in "Zola." Photo via Google Maps

St. Peter’s Apostolic Church

Another Tampa spot with quick a cameo is the New St. Peter’s Apostolic Church—and it's not the only "Jesus Saves" sign in "Zola."
Photo via Google Maps
Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach Resort The Wyndham Grand on Clearwater Beach is one of the main stops for the group. The beachfront resort is the second place the group stays after their first night in Tampa. It’s also the place where the trip takes another dangerous turn as X threatens Zola while she relaxes at the Wyndham’s pool and a distraught Derek inside the room, where he tries to convince Stefani to stop having sex for money and working with X. Photo via A24

Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach Resort

The Wyndham Grand on Clearwater Beach is one of the main stops for the group. The beachfront resort is the second place the group stays after their first night in Tampa. It’s also the place where the trip takes another dangerous turn as X threatens Zola while she relaxes at the Wyndham’s pool and a distraught Derek inside the room, where he tries to convince Stefani to stop having sex for money and working with X.
Photo via A24
Young-Rainey Star Center Pinellas' technology and research center appears in "Zola," too. Photo via Google Maps

Young-Rainey Star Center

Pinellas' technology and research center appears in "Zola," too.
Photo via Google Maps
Cross at New Tabernacle Church Showing the cross outside Seffner's New Life Tabernacle United helped "Zola" filmakers show moviegoers that the movie takes place in the South. Photos via Google Maps

Cross at New Tabernacle Church

Showing the cross outside Seffner's New Life Tabernacle United helped "Zola" filmakers show moviegoers that the movie takes place in the South.
Photos via Google Maps
Sunshine Skyway Bridge Of course, a Tampa Bay-set film wouldn’t be complete without a shot of one of our most famous landmarks: The Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Photo via Adobe

Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Of course, a Tampa Bay-set film wouldn’t be complete without a shot of one of our most famous landmarks: The Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
Photo via Adobe
The Don CeSar Of course, a Tampa Bay-set film wouldn’t be complete without a shot of one of our most famous landmarks: The Don CeSar. Photo via thedoncesarhotel/Instagram

The Don CeSar

Of course, a Tampa Bay-set film wouldn’t be complete without a shot of one of our most famous landmarks: The Don CeSar.
Photo via thedoncesarhotel/Instagram
Adamo Drive Murals The span of murals painted on the sides of warehouses off Adamo Drive in Tampa are in "Zola." Photo via Nicole Abbett

Adamo Drive Murals

The span of murals painted on the sides of warehouses off Adamo Drive in Tampa are in "Zola."
Photo via Nicole Abbett
Lenny’s RestaurantOne famous local restaurant making an appearance in "Zola": Lenny’s Restaurant in Clearwater. Photo via Google Maps

Lenny’s Restaurant

One famous local restaurant making an appearance in "Zola": Lenny’s Restaurant in Clearwater.
Photo via Google Maps

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