Shell’s Feed & Garden Supply is celebrating 60 years in business this Spring serving Tampa and the Greater Tampa Bay Area. Owned and operated by the Shell family, Greg Shell is the current owner and the son of the original owner, Charles Shell.
Shell’s is a nostalgic farm store with a garden center in the middle of the city. Our building’s stand-out red and white checker pattern painted on the building is a nod to the original roots of the business – we were, and still are, a Purina Farm Feed dealer. That checker pattern has been part of our business for our entire presence here in Tampa. You can see more about our origin story here: https://shellsfeed.com/about/ .
With live flower and vegetable plants, flower and vegetable seeds, supplies for a variety of small to large pets, as well as agricultural items and live chickens and rabbits, we serve a niche for families who want to grow and raise their own food and have flower gardens on their property. We also serve people who want great products for their pets, whether they be dog, cat, bird, or otherwise. And for backyard bird watchers, we’ve got lots of great bird feeders and seed mixes at great prices too!
Some of our favorite stories from customers are those who tell us that they’ve been coming here since they were children, and now they bring their children to look at the baby chickens and rabbits that we have here and get a taste of “the way things used to be.” It’s part of Shell’s mission to educate people on where their food comes from, and having farm animals and vegetable plants available to aspiring homesteaders and city dwellers is part of achieving our mission.
We also support many garden-related initiatives, such as the Community Gardens that are all over Tampa Bay . We’re a resource for the many Urban Farmers that are using their urban and suburban spaces to grow food and raise sources of protein for their families (whether it be milk, eggs, or meat) too. Our business is situated in a “food desert” and it’s especially important for our community to have the resources, both physical product and educational tools, available for families to be able to grow and raise their own food, and we’re proud to serve our community in this way.
Our online space has a lot of great information for people seeking knowledge about gardening and pets, including a bi-monthly blog and newsletter, and other resources available for free on the website. We also have an online store. We’ve also continuing the expansion of our product lines to evolve and maintain our store as a destination for people who love to garden and who want great products to take care of their pets.
The newly-expanded Garden Center is a wonderful oasis in the middle of the concrete jungle. When you walk through the store and go out the garden center door, you’re immediately welcomed by beautiful flowers and vegetable plants too. You’ll see butterflies, bees, and other native pollinators feasting on the flowers and sipping the water from our plants and trays. It’s become a popular resting and rejuvenating place for the city’s pollinator and beneficial bug population.
People tell us they’ve driven to us from as far as Ocala, Brooksville, Bradenton, Lakeland, and all over Tampa Bay to visit our store. Shell’s is proud to call Tampa home, and we look forward to continuing to serve you for the next 60 years!
Looking for a new career? We’re hiring! shellsfeed.com/careers
–for any press inquiries please direct them to marissa@shellsfeed.com, or call the store and leave a message with your contact information for Marissa Byrum.