While Ybor has traditionally been associated with late-night bars and dive-bar drinking, a growing movement is shifting the neighborhood’s identity. Major mixed-use projects like Gasworx and Ybor Harbor are bringing new residential, cultural, and recreational spaces to the district, with a vision of making Ybor a place to live, work, and explore all day — not just after dark. Local businesses are also part of this change, from the Tampa Pickleball Crew turning a warehouse into a daytime recreation venue to the opening of fine dining experiences like Mise en Place’s move to Casa Gomez, all signaling a more balanced and diverse Ybor City experience.

“Ybor City has a deep, rich history as the cultural heart of Tampa,” said Carlos Hermida, CEO and Founder of Chillum Mushroom & Hemp Dispensary. “We love this neighborhood and want to give people more ways to enjoy it — ways that honor its history and culture rather than just bar-hop from one end of 7th Avenue to the other.”

At Chillum, that means offering “alternative drinks” — including adaptogenic mushroom seltzers, hemp beverages, and other functional drinks — alongside a curated selection of hemp products, functional mushrooms, and microdosing options. These offerings provide customers with an elevated, mindful way to socialize and enjoy Ybor City without resorting to alcohol.

“Imagine grabbing a refreshing mushroom seltzer, visiting Ybor’s new photography museum, and walking the historic brick streets,” said Hermida. “That feels more in line with Ybor’s legacy as a place of culture and creativity than just sitting in a dive bar drinking cheap beer.”

By embracing hemp, mushrooms, and other plant-based wellness products, Chillum is aligning itself with Ybor City’s future: a neighborhood that honors its past while creating something fresh, vibrant, and healthy.

Chillum Mushroom & Hemp Dispensary’s Ybor location is open daily and welcomes anyone looking for a unique, alcohol-free way to enjoy the neighborhood.

About Chillum Mushroom & Hemp Dispensary
Founded in Tampa Bay, Chillum was the first CBD dispensary in the area and the first legal mushroom dispensary in the United States. Chillum is dedicated to providing education and access to hemp, functional mushrooms, and microdosing products, helping customers explore wellness through plant medicine in a safe, legal, and community-driven environment.