Local Shops 1

About Us

LocalShops1, launched in 2008, is Tampa Bay?s source for all things local. Our mission is to provide advocacy, support and education to locally owned, independent businesses throughout the region.

We work with businesses, artists, non-profits, and other cool groups to come up with creative ways to make our neighborhoods better. Shopping locally has the economic advantages, of course: Money spent locally is more likely to stay locally. But it's not just about money. These are the businesses that link us to the past, and ensure our communities will have lots of character in the future.

LocalShops1 grew out of a list I kept on a scrap piece of paper at home, to help my parents find local shops and restaurants when they were visiting from New Jersey. I then started a group on Facebook, asking friends for suggestions to add to the list. Soon LocalShops1 was born, our grassroots organization took off, and thanks to the support of local businesses and community-minded shoppers, LocalShops1 is now Tampa Bay's most active advocate for local businesses!

Thanks for helping us grow the #buylocal #eatlocal #livelocal movement!