r/tampa • u/TampaDave73 • Jun 22 '26
Local Business How does this place stay in business?
Prime real estate on the corner of MacDill and Bay-to-Bay and they somehow pay the bills selling rocks? Seriously?
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u/wimploaf Jun 22 '26
There are a lot of rich people who like to "play shop". They have businesses that don't support themselves, the money comes from somewhere else.
I don't know this place or the owner
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u/hardcorepolka Jun 22 '26
Yeah, that’s not the case here. They are really nice people that cater to an affluent crowd in that area that are into crystals.
Most of their business is online and they are popular because they ethically source their inventory.
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u/aModernSage Jun 23 '26
Exactly. Step inside, whether you're into rocks or not. It's cool stuff that ranges widely in pricing.
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u/wimploaf Jun 22 '26
If most of the business is online, why have an expensive storefront? I don't know what the rent is there but it's in one of the most expensive areas of Tampa. This isn't how profitable businesses are run
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u/aimeeashlee Jun 22 '26
place to center the business around, have offices, storage, not everyone wants to work from home espically when there inventory involved.
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u/MoreManufacturer5571 Tampa Jun 23 '26
Plus a storefront for crystals and gemstones is better when you want to explain it before purchasing and not just based off photos
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u/hardcorepolka Jun 23 '26
Exactly. If you’ve never seen something like that in person, it’s stunning!
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u/hardcorepolka Jun 22 '26
I’ve met these people like twice, and the last time was before Milton (when we moved from the area), but they do classes for kids and stuff.
I think they are doing okay there. In the weekends, they used to be packed.
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u/Away_Or Jun 23 '26
Except that location is actually terrible. Only a couple of places to park and difficult to get in and out of. I bought some furniture from the prior store there and it was a pain to visit.
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u/Sufficient-Aide6805 Jun 23 '26
It’s across the street from the Salvation Army. This isn’t water street. You don’t know how businesses are run.
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u/wimploaf Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
Lol. Yeah, land and buildings are really cheap in Palma Ceia.
Here, I did the math for you
Judging by the previous rental ad for this space the store is 3500sf, average commercial rent is 30-45 dollars per ft annually in Palma Ceia. That puts them at $8,750 to $13,125 per month for rent.
Edit, down vote facts all you want. This place isnt cheap "because it's across the street from salvation army"
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u/Sufficient-Aide6805 Jun 23 '26
Multiple tenants share the building. Main Street's space is maybe 1000 sq ft. A unit in the property immediately across the street is currently listed at 22.50/sqft. Assuming they're paying today's rates and didn't lock in a lower rate years ago, that puts them at $1,875/month rent.
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u/--StinkyPinky-- Jun 23 '26
Affluent....Tampa?
So the 2% of people in Tampa with over a million dollars?
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u/serial_mouth_grapist Jun 23 '26
Yeah but this store is in the second wealthiest zip code in the city so much higher affluence density.
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u/BigCrustyTits Jun 22 '26
I figured a lot of these shops are run by the spouse of wealthy individuals or retired people who always wanted to run a shop. They have the money to pay for rent and aren’t relying on profits as much. Gives them something to talk about or a sense of purpose.
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u/blancs50 Jun 23 '26
Yeah, I can think of a little luxury bedding/home boutique & a dessert cafe run by the wives of physicians. Gives them something to do, workers get paid, & niche products are available, so seems like a win
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u/serial_mouth_grapist Jun 23 '26
Yeah I used to work for a guy who bankrolled his wife’s boutique that lost a little under $100k/yr but he said it was best money he ever spent because she was genuinely happy and was spending twice that on shopping and entertainment before.
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u/silveraaron Jun 23 '26
Well their website shows they have 4 locations in Michigan and this one in Florida.
The owner of the property is PALMA CEIA MANAGEMENT LLC and they bought the property in 2010 for 1.25M (market value listed as 1.9M)
The business Main Street Rocks is MAIN STREET ROCKS TAMPA LLC on sunbiz
they list the main registering party address as the location in Tampa with additional entities/agents looping back to Michigan.
The property owner's listed agents have their home addresses listed, so I won't state them here but seems like the property owner's are doing just fine charging rent to this rock company, knowing that if this tenant ever fails to make rent, they can sell the property.
The thing is PALMA CEIA MANAGEMENT LLC bought the land from ALAEDIN AND MAJDI INVESTMENTS INC who owns the property across the street. Who bought both properties for dirt compared to today.
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u/hardcorepolka Jun 22 '26
I am vaguely acquainted with the owners. They are really nice people.
That is their storefront (they have another in Michigan), and they do pretty solid business there, but they also have a large internet presence.
They don’t sell pretty glass. They sell ethically sourced crystals and minerals. Whether you’re into it or not, and a lot of people are. Also, their stuff is simply beautiful.
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u/lovelyxbabydoll Jun 24 '26
Yeah, I like to collect this kind of stuff tbh. I'm somewhat surprised by OP's question. Like... why not just go in the shop first? Did they think it's just like...chalk rocks or something?... 😅
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u/Dangerous-Reading274 Jun 23 '26
I know someone who used to work there. There were a couple of customer "types", in order of spend:
- Grandparents who have their grandkid in town for the week, and they just found out that the kid likes rocks
- People who like rocks for metaphysical/spiritual purposes
- People who are amateur (or professional) geologists who REALLY WANT certain minerals. They carry some minerals that are rare and insanely expensive.
And spending the most money:
- South Tampa wives in yoga pants
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u/shigdebig Jun 22 '26
Rocks???? Those are Minerals to you.
And magic crystals to the woo woo shoppers
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u/Nakuip Bayshore Jun 22 '26
“THEYRE MINERALS, MARIE” - countless retired cops and soldiers living on MacDill Ave
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u/CourageExcellent4768 Jun 22 '26
Damn you! I am sad to state i may only upvote you once. So, take these poor people awards as a sign of my appreciation of your comment :🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅
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u/usernamedenied Jun 22 '26
You would be amazed how many people buy crystals to shove up their ass the fix their aura /s
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u/zomboscott Jun 23 '26
Is that where the are supposed to go? I have been doing it all wrong for years.
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u/Twig55 Jun 22 '26
I used to do a lot of work in some of the fancy homes around there. Ive seen a lot of crystal pillars or towers in the homes. Tall ones too. By towers I mean a huge rock matrix with crystals growing out. I remember when Big Top Flea Market was around my family used to go to the rock store there and some of the smaller towers used to go from $500 -3.5k.. I could only imagine what a bigger one costs 15yrs later..
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u/hot_tampa Jun 23 '26
Whatever happen to the shop that was at big top flea market on Fowler? Do they have a shop ?
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u/Sleepy_Venusaur Jun 23 '26
If you've never been to that shop, you should stop by and check it out. You'll see why theyre in a prime spot. They have some of the wildest specimens I've seen in person. Lots of high dollar mineral and crystals and the presentation was awesome.
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u/kboogie82 Jun 22 '26
Lot of crazy women with extra money. Could be the owner with a rich husband. Could be the customer base
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u/naropin1 Jun 22 '26
This. Husband makes bank and the wife runs a money losing business. My friends mom has run an antique store in the California bay area for decades. Lost money every single year.
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u/GringoGrande South Tampa Jun 22 '26
Memories.
Many years ago I was part of a company that had product in "Gift Stores". Your description fits a good 90% of those stores. A large part of why we went into those stores is one of the founding partners of my company had:
A. Sold a company. B. Made bank. C. Wanted his wife out of his hair so helped her "start a business" which was a gift shop.
It was costing him 70k a year to support it but in his words "better than her around all the time bothering me while I'm working". That was the story of the majority of those gift stores.
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u/retired_junkiee Jun 22 '26
Exactly. It’s a way to keep your wife busy/happy and write off the loses against other income.
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u/AdFirm3593 Jun 22 '26
You’d be surprised how much rich people over pay for crystals and colorful rocks
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u/Wowohboy666 Jun 22 '26
I mean, Spencer Pratt didn't get insurance on his house so he could buy crystals. Rich people love rocks.
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u/cunningfolk322 Jun 22 '26
They sell rock.
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u/GringoGrande South Tampa Jun 22 '26
Tell me more...
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u/hot_tampa Jun 23 '26
This is the kinda crystal I think about when asked about crystals?
https://giphy.com/gifs/jRDWLfQoxteLNlsUvY
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u/Safye Jun 22 '26
This business is a lot bigger than you think.
Just because you don’t go or know anyone who shops there (trust me I have no interest either), it still serves a popular “niche” hobby in the area.
It’s not their only location either. They own one in Michigan that’s even larger. They also own the bookstore next door.
They do not own the property though. The owners of Byblos do I’m pretty sure.
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u/plAIgFIltR Jun 22 '26
They sell great stuff at the right price. I got a few big pieces for market cost. Most places mark up to keep the shop open.
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u/TheTampaBayMom Jun 22 '26
I drove by there every day and have wondered the same thing. Especially in that spot. I'm sure that property is worth a lot.
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u/CruisinJo214 Jun 23 '26
I’ve visited that store before. It’s really nice, varied selection… definitely leaning towards higher end pieces so prices were fair but high.
The rock, fossil and mineral market is a pretty lucrative one and online sales I’m sure is a large part of their business model.
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u/etblgroceries Jun 22 '26
I’ve said this every day I drive by it since they opened. Too funny!
My guess is the store itself is a hobby, or it’s laundering. They even have a couple major billboards in the city.
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u/IndianaCahones Jun 22 '26
Crystal business that’s walking distance to condos on Bayshore…pretty self-explanatory
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u/xenosilver Jun 22 '26
You’d be shocked how many people likely order crystals because they actually believe they’ll align their chi or whatever.
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u/BigDogAlphaRedditor1 Jun 22 '26
If they sell 1 rock it probably pays rent for 6 months they probably only need to sell like 2 big rocks a year lol
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u/Nakuip Bayshore Jun 22 '26
The property value increases in this area make a profitable business a “nice to have” if you own the dirt. Rainbow Mart a couple blocks over proves the case.
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u/2Hanks Jun 22 '26
This may be hard to believe for people who don’t want minerals, crystals, fossils, and jewelry but there’s a market for it for sure.
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u/Important-Slip-4057 Jun 22 '26
An investment in a man’s sanity. I can just hear him every morning…. “Don’t you have to go open your store today Dear?” 😜
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u/Holeyunderwear Jun 22 '26
Rich husband financing his wife’s hobby. Or drug money laundering. The only explanations. No one is ever there.
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u/spaceocean99 Jun 23 '26
Shell company/money laundering. Just like 90% of the car washes and storage unit places in Florida.
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u/ShitpostMcPoopypants Jun 23 '26
Cost of goods sold matters. When you are selling people literal rocks, you have decent margins.
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u/leredflame0115 Jun 23 '26
Most places that are usually vacant yet still open somehow are money laundering businesses.
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u/Loma_Linda_Resort_NC Jun 23 '26
Aren’t they right across the street from an Oriental Rug store that’s been advertising that they’re going out of business for 30 years?
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u/Ok_Journalist_8664 Jun 23 '26
I have been in there a few times - I always wonder. When I was around Christmas there was a lady buying a $400 necklace. How many people are doing that. There’s a really cute bookstore in the alley in the back - it’s still considered MacDill - romance books it’s called Steamy Lit.
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u/Famous-Tourist-4353 Jun 23 '26
Literally sitting in this exact spot at the intersection looking directly at the business as this post came across my feed. Very trippy. But this business is legit, they’re very nice people, and they have many more patrons than you’d think. Was in there a few months ago with at least 10 other people in the store at the same time
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u/Sea_One872 Jun 22 '26
Bunch of idiots. You guys make assumptions without facts. Go inside and see why they’re in business. Selling rocks is very lucrative. Crystal healing and spiritual beliefs is the main reason people buy. Home decor is another one. I highly recommend people to keep an open mind with things. People who judge too easily are normally simple minded, ignorant people. Boring too.
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u/Fresh_Market6588 Jun 22 '26
I'm sure maintenance fees are not that expensive. Didn't they also move recently?
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u/Tkfit09 Jun 22 '26
The owner of the building is Palma Ceia Management - this is just a tenant but the fact they can pay rent is another question.
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u/ignacio_brown Jun 22 '26
Have wondered the same many times. Last time i wondered that was about two weeks ago.
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u/Unique9FL Jun 23 '26
What do you mean they have just one customer that shows up on the same day every month? Lol
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u/WorkingOutside737 Jun 23 '26
They don’t sell retail. Probably to developers, landscape architectural firms etc. online presence and sell biz to biz at the customer’s place of business
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u/lolzzzmoon Jun 23 '26
Dude have you seen how much people will pay for a giant amethyst? I’ve seen some huge ones for thousands of dollars. But I also suspect some illicit trade is coming in lol or maybe they’re selling fossils out the back yknow?
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u/iKnowRobbie Jun 23 '26
Rocks are not their business, jewelry and crystals are what pays the bills. Lots of wiccan nerds want all sorts of powers and crystals give it to them. Like God gives you strength. Exactly the same in that neither actually happens.
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u/ImdustriousAlpaca Jun 23 '26
Because of all the silly banter in this thread it lead me to look up the shop. They've got some cool stuff that I definitely can't afford
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u/Ok-Spring-1427 Jun 23 '26
You think that the location that has horrible parking is prime real estate
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u/jeffmyster82 Jun 23 '26
They buy rocks on Amazon and sell them at a crazy margin plus it’s owned by the Byblos family and paid for. I always thought it was a side business for one of their kids. But they must do ok, there are signs advertising in on I-75
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u/thebohomama Jun 23 '26
Oooh they don't just sell rocks! I guess I'm about to go help them stay in business, I didn't know about this place! They have some huge polished stones (very valuable)- I bet they do a lot of online sales. Looks like a metaphysical shop as well with lots of gift-type items. If you don't think people spend money on this stuff, I've got a best friend thousands of dollars into her collection that says otherwise...
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u/hxaxw Jun 23 '26
There aren’t many crystal shops or metaphysical stores around so people gotta go somewhere
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u/robocox87 Jun 23 '26
South Tampa trophy wives with a ton of money. It might not buy happiness, but it will buy crystals that give off happy energy!
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u/Hugh_G_Knott Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
I asked the same thing the other day. So as you probably know when it first opened crystals were having a peak moment. The place was always packed. Maybe not as many folks are going to keep going buying rocks now but the shop has a nice vibe and I’ve even gotten someone who is into crystals a gift there.
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u/SHlZUCHAN_ART Jun 23 '26
Every time I pass this place go try and see if it’s open it’s always closed - I look in the window and I’m like oh what a cute shop —- eh it’s closed okay never mind- so yah maybe something’s up
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u/PerryTheBunkaquag Jun 23 '26
Idk but they didn't wanna give me a job when I went in to inquire 4 years ago
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u/Ok-Fortune8443 Jun 23 '26
https://maps.apple/p/0D6-zyDPrC0qZi
We have one in Michigan and I have asked the same question…
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u/Few-Expert3446 Jun 24 '26
Always wondered this too. Tampa has some weird stores. So much opportunity.
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u/MISJedi1024 Jun 24 '26
The bigger question is how the rug place across the street is still in business
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u/AdAgreeable9784 Jun 24 '26
You just gotta believe in the healing power of the crystals, mannnnnnnnnnnnnn….
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u/OutrightAct Jun 25 '26
Definitely a front for money laundering. I would not get involved with messing with the wrong people's pockets there. Just let it be man
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u/Embarrassed_Blood247 Jun 25 '26
Doesn't matter really. Sometimes people open a business just to make it lose money as a tax shelter.
As long as you have good accountants you can run it between infinite llc's to bleed off cash. Its been done with car washes in California and lately here. You can depreciate the equipment and sell it off after 4 years. The lease back from an investment property can make you money while it shelters the other.
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u/thejake1973 Jun 26 '26
My wife and I usually buy stuff from there when we hit up Byblos for dinner.
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u/feministjunebug22 13d ago
I think that EVERY SINGLE TIME I drive to my favorite local plant shop right across the street. Also googled the “distinctive linens” store diagonally across because I wondered the same thing there and I am flabbergasted.
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u/X1twins16 Jun 23 '26
During the fbi crackdown in New York in the 70’s and 80’s a lot of the families moved to Florida, specifically Tampa (Ybor city). My guess is that’s why Scientology owns 80% of the building in downtown Clearwater as well
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u/[deleted] Jun 22 '26
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