Oxford Exchange

Depending on your perspective, Oxford Exchange is either a large house, or a small town. Each area offers its own feel and personality, yet each contributes to the whole, which aims to fulfill a diverse range of interests, ultimately devoted to the pleasure of a shared experience. We began with a mission to create something that would cultivate community and conversation. Designed in the spirit of human engagement, Oxford Exchange is ultimately a gathering place housing a collection of ideas and experiences under a single roof. Just as the name suggests, we drew inspiration from the historic clubs, libraries and shops of London, whose charm and history seem to spark spontaneous social interaction. If community is the heart of Oxford Exchange, the history is most certainly it’s soul. Seated across the street from what was once Henry B. Plant’s legendary Tampa Bay Hotel, our space, has undergone several transformations throughout it’s lifetime. Originally constructed in 1891, we believe it began as a humble stable. (Today, vintage horseshoes and milk bottles unearthed during renovations are displayed in our Commerce Club.) Then, beginning in the 1920s an arcade of local shops and businesses occupied the space, a principal feature echoed in the current design. After decades of vacancy, brother and sister team, Blake Casper and Allison Adams, sought to revive the space and establish something missing in their hometown: a place to belong. With inspiration from travels abroad and the assembly of a passionate team of experts, their idea began to take shape, while the space and it’s many uses evolved together. Following painstaking restoration, most notably of the century old brickwork, a design that seamlessly blends the old with the new breathed new life into the space. And, finally, on September 24, 2012, Oxford Exchange opened its doors to the world.