Praises on High For Oxford Exchange

Tampa's newest retail center opened its doors on Monday to praises from its first customers and the business owners who call it home.

The Oxford Exchange is home to a book store, Buddy Brew Coffee, TeBella Tea Company, a restaurant, home decor shop and private office suites. The redevelopment of the century old building at 420 West Kennedy Boulevard was done with a spare no expense mentality, from fine wood work to marble counter tops and floors.

"My friend and I drove down from Carrollwood just to check it out," first time visitor Theresa Berry said. "It's absolutely beautiful. It's very impressive the way they've built this."

For the business owners occupying the Oxford Exchange, the chance to expand their business into one of the hottest destinations in Tampa right now is a huge opportunity. For TeBella Tea Company owner Abigail St. Clair, expansion came sooner than expected.

"It was always a goal of ours to expand into a second location and to have an afternoon tea time eventually," St. Clair said. "This set us up to execute our ten year plan in only our second year of business. Everyone who has come in is just in awe of the place."

Sitting directly across the street from the University of Tampa, the building also provides students a new place to hang out off campus that is closer than anything before it.

"There wasn't much in this stretch of Kennedy for students to do before this, but now they don't have to walk far to get coffee or a book off campus," University of Tampa adjunct professor of communications Steven Crompton said. "There is a lack of things in downtown in general so this is good for the whole area. I hope it stays this busy because it may spark more development right around here."