A shop dedicated to rubber ducks is opening soon in the Grand Central District
/The Rubber Duck Shop will debut this summer at 2626 central Avenue in the Grand Central District | St. Pete Rising
St. Petersburg will soon have a new claim to fame – the first and only city in Florida with a retail store dedicated to rubber ducks.
This summer, The Lucky Duck Shop will join the flock of storefronts in St. Pete’s Grand Central District at 2626 Central Avenue, formerly home to Acme Air Conditioning Co.
The 1,000-square-foot shop will carry over 150 unique styles of rubber ducks and duck-themed shirts, stuffed animals, candles, dog toys, and more.
“The ducks just make people smile,” said owner Daniel Plonsky in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “They’re cute and fun to collect.”
Plonsky may be on to something. Each year, Tampa is home to The Incredible Duck Race, where the Kiwanis Club of Tampa races 10,000 rubber ducks down the Hillsborough River.
At the University of Central Florida in Orlando, rubber ducks are thrown in the on-campus reflection pond during the university’s annual Spirit Splash event. Each year features a new style of duck and some of the older styles can fetch hundreds of dollars on the secondary market.
At The Rubber Duck Shop, each duck has its own style and personality. Visitors will find ducks dressed as teachers, wrestlers, and even social media influencers. The Lucky Duck will also carry fantasy, sports, and "naughty" ducks.
Prices for the quacky companions range from $9.99 to $11.99.
A large bathtub filled with classic bright yellow rubber duckies and themed ducks from movie franchises such as Lord of the Rings and Star Wars will be the main focal point of the store.
Plonsky has commissioned local artists Michelle Sasha and Shiyenne Alora of ArtFluent Creatives to create murals for the space.
The Lucky Duck Shop has also launched a website, so non-locals can get in on the fun too.
Plonsky, a former attorney, never had an affinity for collecting rubber ducks but recently noticed the rubber duck fascination in the U.S. and overseas.
In America, many Jeep owners engage in Jeep "ducking," where Jeep owners leave rubber ducks on other parked Jeeps as a gesture of kindness, fellowship, and recognition.
"My husband lived in Europe where Jeep ducking isn't a trend, but we would still see these popular rubber duck shops all over," Plonsky said to St. Pete Rising.
"There's so many different designs and concepts. And every time I went to one of those shops, I brought back a rubber duck as a souvenir. So now I have a little collection."
When Plonsky and his husband were married in March at The Florida Aquarium, the couple placed sea creature-themed rubber ducks on the guests' tables.
"Everyone loved the ducks," said Plonsky, explaining he wants to bring that same joy and excitement to the residents of St. Pete.
The Lucky Duck Shop is currently being built out and Plonsky expects to debut later this summer.
Follow The Lucky Duck Shop on Facebook and Instagram for the latest store announcements and duck deals.
