You’re driving down Linebaugh Avenue or maybe cruising near Brandon, looking for that specific shade of teal planter that won't cost more than your car payment. You see the sign. It’s familiar. But if you haven’t been inside an Old Time Pottery Tampa Florida location recently, you might be walking into a ghost story—or at least a corporate rebranding project that’s still shaking out the cobwebs.
The truth is a bit messy.
In early 2023, Gabe's (the discount fashion and home retailer) bought Old Time Pottery. For locals in Tampa, this meant more than just a change in the fine print on the back of a receipt. It signaled the end of an era for a store that felt like a massive, disorganized, glorious treasure hunt. Some folks hated the chaos. Others lived for it.
Now, the "Pottery" part of the name is almost a misnomer. Sure, you can still find aisles of terracotta and glazed ceramic pots that could house a small palm tree, but the identity of the store is shifting. It’s becoming a hybrid. A Frankenstein’s monster of home decor, closeout linens, and random snacks.
Why the Tampa Locations Feel Different Than the Rest
Tampa is a weird market for home decor. You have the high-end interior design boutiques in South Tampa and the relentless, soul-crushing efficiency of IKEA near Ybor. Old Time Pottery Tampa Florida sits in this awkward, beautiful middle ground.
Most people assume every "big box" store is the same. They aren't. The inventory at the Tampa-area stores—specifically the massive footprint on Linebaugh—is heavily influenced by the seasonal churn of Florida life. While an Old Time Pottery in Ohio might be stocking heavy wool blankets in October, the Tampa stores are doubling down on outdoor furniture and UV-resistant cushions because, well, it’s 90 degrees and humid here until Christmas.
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The sheer scale of the Tampa stores is what usually shocks people. We’re talking about 100,000 square feet of "stuff." It is not a place you pop into for five minutes. It’s a place where you lose your spouse in the floral aisle and don't find them until you reach the rugs.
The Gabe’s Takeover: A Reality Check
When Gabe's stepped in, the fear was that the "Old Time" charm would vanish. Honestly? It sort of did, but maybe that's not a bad thing. The stores were notorious for being, let’s say, dusty. The acquisition brought in better inventory management systems.
You’ll notice more "Gabe’s" branding creeping in. This means more apparel. More footwear. More random name-brand closeouts that have nothing to do with pottery. If you go in looking for a specific hand-thrown clay vase, you might be disappointed to find a wall of discounted athletic socks instead.
The Logistics of the Treasure Hunt
If you’re heading to the Tampa locations, you need a strategy. Don't just wing it.
- Check the "Cemetery" first. Every Old Time Pottery has that back corner. The place where the chipped pots go to die. In Tampa, the heat can actually make some of the outdoor resins brittle if they sit too long. Check for cracks. But if you’re a DIY person? That’s where the 70% off stickers live.
- Timing is everything. Tuesday mornings. That’s the sweet spot. The weekend crowds have pillaged the place, and the new trucks have usually unloaded by Monday night.
- The Rug Rule. One of the few things Old Time Pottery Tampa Florida still does better than anyone is the rug section. It’s overwhelming. Bring your room measurements and a tape measure. Do not trust your eyes. The warehouse lighting makes everything look three shades darker than it will look in your living room.
Acknowledging the Competition
Let’s be real: HomeGoods is the elephant in the room. People love HomeGoods because it feels curated. It feels like a magazine. Old Time Pottery feels like a warehouse. It’s loud. The floors are concrete. The carts have a mind of their own.
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But HomeGoods is expensive by comparison. You’re paying for the curation. At Old Time Pottery, you’re the curator. You have to dig. You have to find the one "Made in Italy" planter hidden behind twenty plastic ones from a factory that shall remain nameless.
What’s Actually Worth Buying?
Not everything in the store is a deal. Some of the furniture is made of particle board that will swell up and disintegrate the moment a Florida humidity wave hits it.
The Wins:
Glassware is a massive win here. If you’re hosting a wedding or a big party in Tampa and need 50 glass cylinders, this is your mecca. Floral supplies are another big one. The artificial stems are often the exact same ones sold at hobby stores for triple the price.
The Passes:
Electronic "as seen on TV" gadgets. Just don't. The return policy at Old Time Pottery—even under the new Gabe's management—can be a bit of a bureaucratic nightmare compared to Amazon or Target. If it has a plug, buy it elsewhere.
The "Pottery" Myth
There’s a persistent rumor that all the pottery is local or "old timey." It's not. A lot of it is imported in massive shipping containers. However, because Tampa is a port city, we sometimes get weird, one-off shipments that other stores in the Midwest don't see.
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I’ve seen hand-painted Talavera-style pots in the Tampa store that looked like they came straight from a boutique in Mexico. Two weeks later? Gone. Never to be seen again. That’s the "treasure hunt" aspect that keeps people coming back despite the confusing layout.
Navigating the Local Vibe
The Tampa staff is... seasoned. They’ve seen it all. They’ve seen the "Pinterest Moms" trying to load a six-foot concrete fountain into the back of a Mini Cooper. They are generally helpful, but they aren't interior designers. Don't ask them if "this shade of mauve works with your taupe curtains." They don't know. They just want to help you get the heavy stuff to the register without losing a toe.
If you’re visiting the Linebaugh location, park near the exit. Trust me. You’ll thank me when you’re trying to lug a massive area rug or a set of Adirondack chairs out to your truck in the mid-afternoon sun.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
Stop thinking of it as a department store and start thinking of it as a liquidator.
- Measure your vehicle. It sounds stupid until you’re in the parking lot with a 9-foot umbrella and a sedan.
- Sign up for the rewards. Gabe’s has integrated their "Unstoppable Rewards" program. It actually works now. You get coupons that aren't just "buy $500 get $2 off."
- Inspect everything. Since it’s a high-volume warehouse, items get bumped. Check the bottom of vases. Check the seams on cushions.
- Bring your own "inspiration" photos. The sheer volume of stuff in the store will give you decision fatigue within twenty minutes. If you have a photo of your room, it helps you stay focused so you don't end up buying a life-sized ceramic rooster you don't need.
The Old Time Pottery Tampa Florida experience is evolving. It’s a little more corporate now, a little more "Gabe's," but it remains one of the few places in the city where you can still decorate an entire patio for the price of a single chair at a designer showroom. Just bring your patience and maybe a bottle of water. It’s a long walk to the back.