Tarapani’s Withstands the Tests of Time

As Tarapani’s prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, owner John Tarapani is just as excited for the future of the store as he was 30 years ago.

Abraham Tarapani, John’s grandfather, opened Tarapani’s in 1911. He grew the store from scratch. The shop offered men’s, women’s and children’s apparel. Tarapani’s even carried fabric in bulk for those wishing to make their own clothing.

John Tarapani, 60, has been involved with the store since he can remember, from running amuck as a toddler to stocking shelves as a high school student.

Abe Tarapani, John’s father, passed on his knowledge of the business along with the store itself. However, John says that as soon as he was given control, he was ready for a change in the store’s inventory.

“When my dad retired, I’d had enough of the clothing business,” John explained. “I always clicked with art and antiques, and I thought it would be a nice change.”

John’s love for antiques blended well with the area. Tarpon Springs, and Tarpon Avenue in particular, is arguably the unofficial antique capital of Pinellas County.

Now, instead of a shoe department, Tarapani’s offers a glass department. Instead of a shirt department, there’s an art department.

One of John’s favorite parts of the job is discovering the treasures he serves up on the shelves of Tarapani’s. He travels around the world and brings back items that are not only exclusive to the store, but to the area in general.

Guatemala is one of John’s favorite places to find products for the store. He visits a few times each year and works directly with the Mayans. Through his international relationships, John is able to deliver a one-of-a-kind inventory to Tarpon Springs.

Aside from the business aspect, the Tarapani family is a Tarpon Springs legacy. John Tarapani’s wife, Cyndi, is the president of the Tarpon Springs Historical Society, while his son, Townsend Tarapani, is an active member on the city’s board of commissioners.

Townsend, 26, also helps run the family business. Like his father and grandfather, Townsed also grew up in the shop. He plans to take it on full force when the time comes, and he loves every aspect of the Tarapani’s equation.

“This is not just a business,” said Townsend. “It's a community meeting place.”

Joining the Tarapanis in their 100th year celebration is . The two businesses have worked side by side and formed a solid friendship. The joint anniversary party will take place sometime in October.

Tarapani's

128 E. Tarpon Ave.

727-937-5203