Britton Plaza Shopping Center
Britton Plaza Shopping Center is an open-air neighborhood shopping center in Tampa, Florida, serving the Fair Oaks–Manhattan Manor area with grocery, value retail, specialty stores, dining, entertainment, and public-transit connections.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Britton Plaza Shopping Center is a 522,689-square-foot open-air shopping plaza at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and Euclid Avenue in Tampa, Florida. It serves the Fair Oaks–Manhattan Manor area and combines grocery shopping, discount and off-price retail, specialty stores, restaurants, entertainment, and transit services in a suburban neighborhood-center format. The property was developed in 1956 and is notable for its long operating history, its surviving mid-century Florida roadside identity, and the continuing presence of Publix, which was one of the original tenants. At opening, the center reflected the department-store and specialty-retail patterns of postwar Tampa. Its early tenants included Publix, J.C. Penney, National Shirt Shops, W.T. Grant, Neisners, Thom McAn, Jarman Shoes, Baker Shoes, Western Auto, Continental House, and Rexall Drugs. The plaza was designed with 1950s art-deco elements and a courtyard, while an elaborate roadside sign in a traditional Florida style became a durable visual feature. The original cinema began as a single-screen General Cinema operation, later expanding to two screens and eventually becoming an eight-screen venue. Britton Plaza experienced substantial tenant and format changes as American retail evolved. The building now associated with Burlington Coat Factory began in the mid-1960s as a Belk Lindsay department store, later becoming a J. Byron store and then an Uptons location. Publix left the property in 1987, after which Albertsons occupied and expanded the former supermarket space. A broader renovation during the late 1980s gave much of the plaza its modern appearance, and the cinema was renovated and expanded to eight screens in 1992. The property faced pressure from changing shopping habits, competition from larger multiplexes, and the economic downturn of the late 2000s. Regal Entertainment left the theater operation in 2001, and Zota Theatres later operated the venue before withdrawing in 2008. The closure of Frank’s Nursery and Gardens created an opportunity for a 2003 extension that added Michaels and Marshalls and returned Big Lots to the center. In 2008, Publix announced the acquisition of Albertsons’ Florida stores, including the Britton Plaza location. After the transaction closed, Albertsons departed and the supermarket space was renovated for Publix’s return in January 2009. The cinema reopened in August 2009 under Five Star Cinemas after a period of closure. Other tenant changes around this period included the closure and replacement of Fashion Bug, the reopening of the former China Garden Super Buffet space as Tampa Buffet after expansion, the relocation of Walgreens across Dale Mabry Highway, and the arrival of stores such as Plato’s Closet, Five Dollar Fashions, The Perfect Gift, and The Missing Piece. Hillsborough Area Regional Transit operates a transfer center in the parking area, with HART routes 4, 19, 36, and 89 and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority route 100X serving the facility. The center’s present role is therefore both commercial and local-transportation oriented, although a complete current tenant roster and ownership profile are not established by the supplied sources.
History
Britton Plaza Shopping Center opened in 1956 at Dale Mabry Highway and Euclid Avenue in Tampa, Florida. Its original design followed the postwar suburban shopping-plaza model, with an open-air layout, a courtyard, 1950s art-deco decoration, and a prominent roadside sign associated with older Florida commercial architecture. Publix was among the original tenants, joined by a broad collection of department, apparel, footwear, hardware, variety, and drug stores. The property’s early tenant mix made it a convenient one-stop retail destination for nearby residents. The center also developed an entertainment component. Its movie theater began as a one-screen General Cinema venue, later expanded to two screens, and ultimately became an eight-screen cinema. A separate building opened in the mid-1960s as a Belk Lindsay department store. That structure later housed J. Byron and Uptons before being converted for a later Burlington Coat Factory use. Publix closed its original Britton Plaza store in 1987. Albertsons subsequently occupied the former supermarket space and expanded it, helping reshape the center. During the late 1980s the wider property received a substantial renovation, producing much of the appearance associated with the modern plaza. The cinema was also renovated and expanded to eight screens in 1992. The theater changed operators as the local cinema market evolved. Regal Entertainment operated it during part of the 1990s but left in 2001, amid increasing competition from larger multiplexes. Zota Theatres assumed the space in 2006 but withdrew in 2008 after difficulty attracting enough patrons. The center itself expanded in 2003 after Frank’s Nursery and Gardens closed and its building was demolished. The new extension introduced Michaels and Marshalls and restored Big Lots to the property. The late 2000s brought further disruption. Fashion Bug closed its store in March 2009, while other businesses were affected by the recession and changing retail conditions. In 2008, Publix announced its acquisition of 49 Albertsons stores in Florida, including the Britton Plaza location. When the transaction closed in September, Albertsons left the center and renovations began. Publix reopened on January 8, 2009, restoring a long-standing grocery presence. The movie theater also returned. Five Star Cinemas reopened the eight-screen venue in August 2009, showing recent releases and Indian films. Other tenant changes included the conversion of the China Garden Super Buffet space into the expanded Tampa Buffet, the relocation of Walgreens across the street, and the arrival of stores such as Five Dollar Fashions, Plato’s Closet, The Perfect Gift, and The Missing Piece. The Perfect Gift opened in 2011, while Plato’s Closet occupied part of the former Fashion Bug storefront. Britton Plaza additionally functions as a transit node. Hillsborough Area Regional Transit operates a transfer center in the plaza’s parking area, with HART routes 4, 19, 36, and 89 and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority route 100X connecting there. The available references do not identify the current owner, a formal corporate parent, or a definitive current tenant list. The property is best understood as a locally focused, open-air shopping center whose longevity has depended on periodic renovation, anchor replacement, entertainment changes, and adaptation to neighborhood transportation needs.
- 2011
The Perfect Gift opens
[1]The local specialty retailer The Perfect Gift opens at the center.
- 2009
Publix and the cinema reopen
[1]Publix returns on January 8, and the eight-screen movie theater reopens in August under Five Star Cinemas.
- 2008
Albertsons departs after Publix acquisition
[1]Publix’s acquisition of Albertsons’ Florida stores includes the Britton Plaza location; Albertsons leaves and renovation work begins.
- 2006
Zota Theatres takes over the cinema
[1]Zota Theatres assumes operation of the cinema, seeking to revive the venue’s local business.
- 2003
Plaza extension is completed
[1]The former Frank’s Nursery and Gardens site is demolished and replaced by an extension that adds Michaels, Marshalls, and the return of Big Lots.
- 2001
Regal ends theater operation
[1]Regal Entertainment leaves the plaza’s theater operation after several years.
- 1992
Cinema expands to eight screens
[1]The movie theater undergoes renovation and expands from its earlier configuration to eight screens.
- 1987
Publix leaves the center
[1]Publix closes its Britton Plaza location, and Albertsons later takes over and expands the former supermarket space.
- 1960
Belk Lindsay building opens
[1]A major building later associated with Burlington Coat Factory opens as a Belk Lindsay department store in the mid-1960s.
- 1956
Britton Plaza opens
[1]The open-air shopping center opens at Dale Mabry Highway and Euclid Avenue in Tampa with Publix and a range of department, apparel, footwear, variety, hardware, and drugstore tenants.
Products and positioning
A long-established, convenience-oriented neighborhood shopping center that combines essential grocery shopping with value retail, specialty services, dining, entertainment, and transit access. Its identity is rooted in local Tampa service, a broad tenant mix, and a recognizable mid-century roadside setting rather than a luxury or destination-mall proposition.
Supermarket · 1956
Publix
Publix is the center’s long-standing grocery anchor and was among the original tenants when Britton Plaza opened in 1956. It left in 1987, returned after Publix acquired the Albertsons store at the property, and reopened in a renovated space in January 2009. The available sources do not establish the current store format or product assortment beyond its supermarket role.
Entertainment · 1956
Eight-screen cinema
Britton Plaza’s movie theater evolved from a single-screen General Cinema venue into an eight-screen cinema. It was later operated by Regal Entertainment and Zota Theatres before Five Star Cinemas reopened the venue in August 2009. At reopening, the theater presented recent releases and Indian films. Current operation is not confirmed by the supplied material.
Arts and crafts retail · 2003
Michaels
Michaels joined Britton Plaza as part of the 2003 extension created after the closure and demolition of Frank’s Nursery and Gardens. Its role in the center is specialty retail focused on arts, crafts, and related hobby merchandise. The supplied references do not confirm whether the store remains at the property.
Off-price apparel retail · 2003
Marshalls
Marshalls was added during the 2003 plaza expansion. It contributes an off-price apparel and home-goods offer that complements the center’s broader value-oriented retail positioning. The supplied references do not provide a current trading status.
Off-price department store
Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory occupies a building with a long department-store history. The structure opened as Belk Lindsay in the mid-1960s and later housed J. Byron and Uptons before becoming associated with Burlington. The available material identifies the tenant but does not describe its current assortment or operating status.
Discount retail · 2003
Big Lots
Big Lots was among the tenants brought back to Britton Plaza through the 2003 extension. Its discount and closeout-oriented model fits the center’s practical, value-focused retail mix. The supplied references do not establish whether the location is currently open.
Restaurant · 2009
Tampa Buffet
Tampa Buffet replaced the former China Garden Super Buffet after that business closed to prepare for an expansion. The expanded restaurant reopened on November 29, 2009, with larger dining facilities and a broader buffet selection. Current status is not confirmed.
Brand decisions
2009
Reopen the cinema under Five Star CinemasStrategyBackground
Zota Theatres withdrew from the property after difficulty attracting sufficient patrons against larger nearby multiplexes.
Action taken
Five Star Cinemas took over the theater operation and reopened the eight-screen venue in August.
Aftermath
The reopened theater offered recent releases and Indian films, adding entertainment back to the center’s tenant mix.
2008
Restore Publix through the Albertsons acquisitionM&ABackground
Publix announced the purchase of 49 Albertsons stores in Florida, including the Albertsons location at Britton Plaza.
Action taken
After the transaction closed, Albertsons vacated the plaza and Publix prepared to return through renovation of the supermarket premises.
Aftermath
Publix reopened at the center in January 2009, restoring the original grocery anchor after an interval of Albertsons operation.
2003
Expand the plaza after Frank’s Nursery closesStrategyBackground
The closure of Frank’s Nursery and Gardens created an opportunity to redevelop the property and add new retail capacity.
Action taken
The nursery building was demolished and a plaza extension was created for Michaels, Marshalls, and the return of Big Lots.
Aftermath
The expansion broadened the center’s specialty and value-retail mix.
1987
Replace the original Publix space with AlbertsonsStrategyBackground
Publix closed its Britton Plaza location after more than three decades as an original tenant, leaving a major grocery-anchor space available.
Action taken
Albertsons moved into the former Publix space and undertook renovation and expansion work that helped reshape the center.
Aftermath
Albertsons operated at the property until Publix acquired the location through its purchase of Albertsons’ Florida stores and returned in 2009.
Recent events
- 2011
New specialty tenants join Britton Plaza[1]
Other
The center continued filling former retail spaces with arrivals including Plato’s Closet and The Perfect Gift, alongside other local and value-oriented businesses.
- 2009
Publix returns to Britton Plaza[1]
Product generation · Other
Publix reopened in the renovated supermarket space on January 8, restoring the grocery anchor that had been part of the center’s original tenant base.
- 2009
Britton Plaza’s eight-screen theater reopens[1]
Other
After Zota Theatres withdrew, the cinema reopened in August under Five Star Cinemas, offering recent releases and Indian films.
- 2008
Publix acquires the Albertsons store at Britton Plaza[1]
M&A · Other
Publix announced that its purchase of Albertsons’ Florida stores included the Britton Plaza location. Albertsons subsequently left and the supermarket premises underwent renovation.
- 2008
Britton Plaza undergoes a major renovation[1]
Other
The property began renovation work following Albertsons’ departure, part of a broader repositioning intended to refresh the center during a difficult retail and economic period.
- 2003
Britton Plaza gains new retail space and tenants[1]
Other
Following the closure and demolition of the Frank’s Nursery and Gardens building, a plaza extension added Michaels and Marshalls and brought Big Lots back to the center.
- 2001
Regal Entertainment exits the Britton Plaza theater[1]
Other
Regal Entertainment ended its operation of the Britton Plaza cinema after several years, reflecting the competitive pressure that larger multiplexes placed on smaller neighborhood theaters.
Sources1 sources
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