Itty Bitty, Instagramming Plant City

The+Corner+Store+is+located+in+Historic+Downtown+Plant+City%2C+FL.

Yesenia Bustamante

The Corner Store is located in Historic Downtown Plant City, FL.

On I-4 East, between Tampa and Orlando, lies Plant City. It has made its mark as the strawberry capital of the world. Unfortunately, if you search online, it may seem like there isn’t much to do there. This is where @IGersPlantCity comes in.

Today is a world of technology, and the most popular social networks include Instagram and Facebook. So understandably, people use these sites to preview what eats and activities cities have to offer. Yet for Instagram, Plant City seemed invisible just a couple of years ago. Victoria, founder of the ever-growing Instagram account, thought the very same thing.

Being raised in Lakeland, living in Orlando, eventually moving to Plant City, Victoria did as she commonly would, search Instagram for fun places to eat and events in the area.

“When I searched hashtags for IGers Plant City, I found nothing,” she says. So, she decided, “I’ll just start it. It’ll force me to go out and explore.”

Together with her boyfriend, a Plant City native himself, Victoria began exploring local restaurants in the area. She posts the menus, food, as well as events in Plant City. She also handles to social media for The Corner Store, a popular, health-conscience restaurant in downtown Plant City. On the store’s Facebook and Instagram, she posts new menu items and foodstuffs.

We attended her most recent event, the Friends Trivia at The Corner Store earlier this month. Partnered with the restaurant, they created a Friends theme menu that included, “Chandler’s Mac & Cheese,” and “Central Perk Brew.” It was a full house.

Yesenia Bustamante
Locals enjoy attending Friends Trivia Night at The Corner Store.

Victoria did nine rounds of head-scratching trivia. Even when you think you know a show, she finds a question that will stump you. Previous trivia nights included a Harry Potter theme, which she described so popular, she is debating doing another one, this time on the films.

Instagrammers of Plant City has close to 5000 followers on Instagram, with the number increasing by the day. Her explorations of the city are posted daily on this social media platform and she often hosts events at The Corner Store. The next event is “Dine Small Downtown,” Oct. 20 from 4-7 p.m. This event is $30 in advance, $40 the day of and will feature local, downtown eateries, Norma’s, (newly opened) Strawberry Tap and of course, The Corner Store.