ZaZoo’d’s new location is full of all your favorite things

ZaZoo’d’s new location at 633 Central Avenue is double the size of its previous space — and it’s one of the most unique shops in St. Pete.

Antique diving helmets, vintage drinkware, big hats, transatlantic travel trunks, a tiny globe, transcribed pillows, a Jim Morrison made of Legos, bell jars, Prada, Chanel, love seats, and film reels are a few of ZaZoo’d owner David Fischer’s favorite things. You’ll find all of this and more inside the new 600 block store.

Fischer recently relocated ZaZoo’d to 633 Central Avenue. The new store is double the size, giving him a grand 2,400 square feet of floor space to play with, which Fischer had no problem filling. It’s impossible to be bored in ZaZoo’d, though the store is the child of Fischer’s boredom.

Fischer retired from his job as VP of Training for the massive Darden Restaurants Group, which owns Olive Garden, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, etc., some 15 years ago or more, but retirement didn’t suit his creative temperament. Fischer says, “I was doing free design work for all my friends, got tired and bored of the beach, and thought, why not start a business and make some money off of it?”

Mixing vintage and modern design at ZaZoo’d

Fischer’s design projects became a fully fledged business with a large staff. ZaZoo’d’s team specializes in refurbishment but with flair. “We reimagine, turning the old to new,” says Fischer. For example, they have a groovy item that combines an airplane wing with an old-timey steamer train travel trunk. They also make furniture, pillows, and framed art, among many other things.

While ZaZoo’d is a brick-and-mortar store, its influence can be seen throughout St. Pete. They designed local restaurants such as Pulpo, Flute, and Dram, and remodeled the Hollander Hotel, the Avalon Hotel, Zubrick Magic Theatre, and numerous hot spots in Tampa. In addition, Fischer owns many one-of-a-kind bars and lounges: The Ball (formerly The Saint), Cocktail, Wet Spot, and Mary Jean Hotel. Of course, ZaZaoo’d’s team was behind the design.

The store seamlessly blends vintage and antiques with modern elements. “Many people inherit things and don’t know how to mix them,” says Fischer. The store itself testifies to their skill in that department. One wall in the store exhibits antique glassware and vintage diving helmets mixed with bright, eye-popping modern objects, and it all seems completely balanced. Clearly, retirement doesn’t suit Fischer. And St.Pete is all the better because of that.

ZaZoo’d’s old space will soon become The Book Lounge.