Locally Sourced

Back in 2011, on a Sunday morning in downtown Tampa, a young couple awoke to find they had forgotten to get eggs for their breakfast. The two looked at each other and at the same time said “Sure wish there was a cute little store we could run down to and get what we need,” and from that moment of necessity Duckweed was born! Named after the same tiny, native, edible, flowering plant that grows all around us, Duckweed started with just 550 sq ft providing a solution to our neighbors needs. These days, we are anything but small, but we will always be the cute local market for everything you need at heart.

Holding the distinction of being downtown Tampas first grocery shop; residents and visitors are now able to pick up their daily necessities along with a few luxuries, without leaving the neighborhood. The markets food items focus on fresh, organic and locally sourced; as well as offering specialty items ranging from honey to olive oils, deli selections (with Vegan and non-Vegan options) and world-famous William Dean Chocolates.

In 2016, we opened our second location in Channel District with the same focus and values in mind.

In 2018, Duckweed went through a change of ownership and the new owner has focused on expanding partnerships on the grocery side as Mayor of Tampa, Bob Buckhorn opened the space at the Element Building occupying over 2400 sq ft. This would become the new home for the original Duckweed Urban Market, as we moved into the expanded space on Tampa Street. Since then, we have continued growing the concepts to include a cafe (with Vegan options) through our partners, Farmacy Vegan Kitchen in both Downtown & Channel District; while winning the prestigious Urban Excellence Award for Best Grocer in 2018.

In 2019, it was apparent to us that a liquor component was missing in the neighborhood, and as we strive to provide convenience for our neighbors, a Liquor store was added to our Channel District location providing options beyond beer & wine with a full liquor inventory.

Going forward, the storefronts Duckweed will occupy will grow even more - stretching to between 3,000 and 3,500 square feet. This is all part of the plan to grow the Duckweed brand and we are currently working on flagship locations at WestShore Marina District, with an interior that will elevate the design from the quirky urban look that defines the Channel District and Downtown Tampa storefronts, to a cleaner, more high-end look. It will also include a liquor store that will offer residents of the surrounding communities an opportunity to purchase alcohol beyond beer and wine. We appreciate everyone whos been customers of ours and look forward to meeting more people as we continue to expand our brand into other neighborhoods.

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