State Theatre
When you drive by State Theatre, you would think it is a theater. Well, it used to be. However, the venue stopped showing films in 1958. The location is now an antiques store. However, it is much more like a free museum of early 1900s Americana than an antiques store. The building is filled with hundreds of statues, jukeboxes, posters, art, and signs. If we had to choose themes for the items, they would be circus, penny arcade, entertainment, music, western, and sign—but there is more. All of the electronics are functional. There is no cost to enter. The location also has space for private events and parties.
Address: 111 W J Arden Mays Blvd.
Hours: Weekends
The Gallery at Rowan and Plum
This location offers creative workshops like an explore Fiber Arts Summer Camp starting July 1. These sessions will teach making, decorating and painting fabrics. An All Things Paper Day Summer Camp is also coming July 8. Examples of the workshops the location offers on a regular basis are candle making, gyotaku (fish print making), decoupage, wood in 3D, print making, paper flower making, sign-making, and a cruel summer Taylor Swift party to make friendship bracelets. The location also offers a room for meetings.
Address: 101 E. Mahoney St.
Hours: Tues-Sat 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sun- Mon 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
https://www.rowanandplumgallery.com
Catnip Cafe and Adoption Lounge
If you are a fan of cats, this is the place for you. These “Purrrveyors of high spirits and furever friendships,” offer cat petting and adoptions. Inside, the cafe’s focus is various herbal and black teas. However, coffee is also served. In a smart set up, the cafe is separated from the petting area by glass doors. The venue offers options for parties. There is a fee for entering the petting area.
Address: 107 E. Reynolds St.
Hours: Wed-Fri 12 p.m – 8 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sun 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Brick City Bricks
This Lego store in Plant City is veteran and family owned. If your kids (or you) are big Lego fans, this will satisfy your addiction. The business offers hundreds of Lego collections from Star Wars, Disney, vehicles, Marvel, DC, flowers, and creator sets, among others. Hundreds of Lego figurines decorate the location. In addition, there are bins of tens of thousands of various Lego pieces to search through. “People can walk through for hours and not see everything,” said Greg Williams, the owner. “We have had people from Japan, Australia, and the UK on vacation in Orlando who take time to drive over here to see our store.” Kids can come in and build something on the spot from the loose section. In addition, the store holds special build sessions for holidays.
Address: 107 E. Reynolds St.
Hours: Mon-Fri 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Krazy Kup
According to coffee afficianados, the brew at Krazy Kup is really good. The coffee shop’s brick interior is decorated with movie posters and fun coffee signs. The second floor venue offers entertainment Friday and Saturday nights after 6:30. Various bands, singers, bluegrass music, open mic, and improv nights fill the weekends. The music is high quality—previously the stage has showcased a Grammy-winning musician.
Address: 101 E J Arden Mays Blvd.
Hours: Tues-Thurs 7:33 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Fri 7:33 a.m. – 8:33 p.m.; Sat 8:33 a.m. – 8:33 p.m.
Stage 201
This restaurant identifies itself as a “performance pizza eatery.” The owners have come up with a unique pizza that is a hybrid of Chicago and Detroit styles called the Motown. Somehow they figured out how to bake a top crust of crisp cheese. Even committed Chicago deep-dish eaters like this pizza. Apart from the pizza, Stage 201 is worth visiting just want to see the framed collection of early Marvel comic book covers lining the wall to the bathrooms. Live musicians will begin playing in August.
Address: 201 E Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
Hours: Tues-Sat 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.