“I hope that we can appeal to people who maybe want something a little different in the vintage scene; I’d like to create some sort of swampy wonderland that’s ever changing, but isn’t rooted in clearing out a store down the street,” she added.
Since all of the storage units that Vargus clears out are located in the greater Tampa Bay area, many of the items that Alligator Camp sells are Florida-themed, including kitschy decor adorned with oranges, dolphins, Disney characters, and, of course, alligators.
Bradford also repurposes pre-owned clothing into merchandise for Alligator Camp.
“Getting to create our own branding and merch is definitely one of my favorite parts of the business; we’re really trying to create something different within the vintage space,” Bradford said. “My dream is to become the sort of St. Pete staple that people bring their kids to for years to come.”
Although the shop has only been open for a few weeks, VHS tapes, DVDs, cassettes, and vinyl records have emerged as early best-sellers. The store also carries a small selection of VHS players and vintage televisions.