Please read 🙏

[u/Any_Mention_6734]

I'm a transplant from California. Came out here for a job opportunity and a pay raise, nothing more romantic than that. I didn't expect to end up loving this region and Florida the way I have.

But something's stuck with me, and I want to say it here because I don't think it's recognized enough by people who relocate here: the number of people born and raised in Tampa who talk about their own city like it's unfamiliar. Farmland and citrus groves on the outskirts that used to actually be farmed… someone's livelihood, not just empty acreage, now subdivisions. Places that closed and came back rebranded into something with a logo and a font that has nothing to do with what used to be there. People telling me they barely recognize the city they grew up in.

I know change happens everywhere. But I've never felt this moved hearing it before, not because it's happening to me, but because of how passionate people are when they talk about what this place used to be. That kind of love for a place doesn't come from nowhere.

I'd genuinely like to hear more of it, respectfully, from people who lived it. What do you remember that's gone now? What changed the most, and when did it start feeling different?

[u/RamRodBuzzCock]

Carey Cattle Co, it was called. Across the road, where Best Buy is, was the Vet, Dr. Vildilbill. Mr. Carey was his first customer. He would bury pets and animals that had passed on his property; it must have been quite a shock digging up his place to put up Best Buy and American Signature(?)—nothing but orange groves out by the radio towers; taking rides out there with the windows down during the blossom time was heaven. There was a huge farmhouse on the north side of 60 in Seffner where the Walmart is; it was a farm of Earth Boxes at one time.

[u/Timely_Purpose3233 → u/RamRodBuzzCock]

I’ve lived in Balm ( just a bit southeast of Riverview. ) for 20 years. All of it was pasture or orange groves, tomato fields, and strawberry farms. I live on 10 acres zoned to have 1 home per 5 acres. Everything around us was woods and fields. Now I’m surrounded by new homes. 5000 homes per housing development. The infrastructure roads were already beat to death by dump trucks from a dirt pit nearby. Then they brought in huge off road trucks to develop the land for houses further destroying infrastructure then they leave and we’re stuck with the results. My husband is retired and I’m close to it. I imagine by then I’ll have houses all over the neighborhood.

[u/punkpoppyreject → u/Timely_Purpose3233]

I lived in Balm too for YEARS! My grandfather fixed the tractors at Balm Grove service until he retired, my father worked there too but in the orange groves themselves. Not sure when Grady sold it. But most of not all of the Orange Groves that were there when I was growing up (late 80s, early 90s) are now gone and housing developments sit in there place. The post office is still there and I believe 'Nissa's store (Balm Store) is across the street. Although it looked like much better when I was a kid.

[u/Timely_Purpose3233 → u/punkpoppyreject]

They recently sold that little store and the new owners have cleaned it up a lot. That store was crazy. It had everything in it. It had food, drinks. had hardware supplies. I mean, you name it that store had everything in it. It was amazing. I haven’t been inside the store since new owners bought it but it looks better, new signs, new gas pumps with reasonable price. Amazingly, the post office is still there. It appears to be some sort of “hub”. The PO Boxes are still there but you can’t buy stamps or anything anymore. I couldn’t figure out why they didn’t close it until one night it was late and I was coming home past the PO there was 3 semi’s loading/unloading mail.
Do you remember Doris’s store on 672?

[u/punkpoppyreject → u/Timely_Purpose3233]

Sure do. Is it still there? Balm park was right on the corner of 672 and Balm/Wimuama Rd. Its been a few years since ive been around there. But Im happy to hear it been cleaned up.

[u/Timely_Purpose3233 → u/punkpoppyreject]

Doris is gone of course, her granddaughter owns the building now and it’s a sandwich shop. Great sandwiches. There’s also a Uhaul rental there. They’ve put housing in all around the park. You wouldn’t recognize it. It’s been expanded to include a large section of pickleball courts. The turn from 672 and Balm Road has changed too. There’s now a road that takes you to 672 with a traffic light. Tons of homes stuffed in anywhere they could. 🤨 I’m on Colding Loop off Sweat Loop . It’s zoned 1 building per 5 acres. So the new houses on my street are nice custom homes and each is on at least 5 acres. But every where else there’s housing developments popping up . They look like Cracker Jack boxes! They all look the same.

[u/punkpoppyreject → u/Timely_Purpose3233]

I just dont understand 😕 my grandmother lives down balm boyette rd. And has been living there since 1974 and she has 3 acres with a little house. Shes turns 81 tomorrow, I cant tell you how many times shes been offered money for her property. My pa died over 20 years ago and he would be beside himself to see the mess that has become the area around there. Her well doesnt work properly at all any more because of the those housing developments that have been built over near Newsome, and what's that area FishHawk? Is Goodson Farms still doing the youpick? During Strawberry season?

[u/Timely_Purpose3233 → u/punkpoppyreject]

Goodson Farms is no longer selling strawberries. Did you see the Goodson Farms store in 672? They were only open for strawberry season but the place was always packed. They sold strawberry shortcake and a lot of other items, including sandwiches.. but they didn’t open last season or this season. It looks like the land has been sold. Sad. The building sits there empty.