Frolic Exchange Brings Bohemian Chic To Seminole Heights

Kathy Steele | Tuesday, May 6, 2014

A mother-daughter duo is bringing Bohemian chic to Seminole Heights with their new clothing shop called Frolic Exchange.

Bree and Nancy Denicourt will hold a grand opening on May 10. The shop, at 4634 N. Florida, is the brick-and-mortar version of an online business selling vintage, recycled and designer clothes and accessories.

"We do pretty well there," says 22-year-old Bree Denicourt of the online business. "But, I was getting bored and decided I wanted a physical site."

Frolic Exchange held a preview party in April, sponsored by Tampa Bay Brewing Company, and featuring live music. Future store events will utilize an outdoor patio area.

Bree Denicourt has been a fan of vintage clothing for years and started the online venture more than two years ago. "I obsessively collected them even if they didn't fit me," she says.

The shop features racks of vintage and designer dresses, vests, jackets, crop tops, tie-up blouses, pencil skirts, swim suits, jewelry, purses and more. There also is a men's section that includes T-shirts, jackets, pants and hand-made bow ties.

Frolic Exchange fits snugly between the art gallery Tempus Projects and mid-century modern furniture store, A Modern Line.

Last year Seminole Heights' resident Andrew Watson opened Built in a small warehouse building at 4501 N. Florida. He designs and makes custom furniture and fixtures for residential and commercial clients including The Bricks in Ybor City and the Bends in St. Petersburg. Most recently he did the table tops for the soon-to-open Ulele Restaurant in Tampa Heights.

To the north of these new businesses, Florida has blossomed in recent years with locally owned businesses including Cappy's Pizza, Microgroove, Independent, Cleanse Apothecary, Forever Beautiful Salon & Wine Spa, Sherry's YesterDaze Vintage Clothing and Antiques and The Refinery.

Now it seems this stretch of Florida, south of Violet Street, is ready for action.

"There's a little boom happening," says Watson. "We decided to be part of that."

Bree Denicourt sees a synergy developing among the businesses settling along Florida.

"People are going to want to stop and spend time here," she says.

Writer: Kathy Steele
Sources: Bree Denicourt, Frolic Exchange; Andrew Watson, Built

Read more articles by Kathy Steele.

Kathy Steele is a freelance writer who lives in the Seminole Heights neighborhood of Tampa. She previously covered Tampa neighborhoods for more than 15 years as a reporter for The Tampa Tribune. She grew up in Georgia but headed north to earn a BA degree from Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. She backpacked through Europe before attending the University of Iowa's Creative Writers' Workshop for two years. She has a journalism degree from Georgia College. She likes writing, history, and movies.