600 block of Florida Avenue — Old Tampa Photos Home

600 Block of Florida Ave

Corner of Florida Ave and Zack St. Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the USF Digital Collection.

Exchange National Bank Tower. 2023 © Chip Weiner

The 600 block of Florida Avenue comprised several buildings in the 1960s when this photo was taken. These include the Petteway Building at Twiggs and Florida (circa 1910), the Bentley-Trezevant Building (circa 1928) in the middle of the block, and most notably known for housing Morrison’s Cafeteria, and the building on the corner of Florida and Zack, which housed the Annex Bar since the mid-1930s.

The buildings was across the street from what was then the post office, now the Le Meridian Hotel. The block was demolished in 1963, and the 22-story $6 million Exchange National Bank tower, the tallest building in the city at the time, opened in 1966. It was the same year Curtis Hixon Hall was built. It has since been demolished.

600 Block of Florida Ave. Composite created from the Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the USF Digital Collection.

Pettaway Building- for the Exchange Bank. Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection.

Demolition of the 600 block of Florida. 1963. Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection.

Demolition of the 600 block of Florida in the spot that once housed Morrisons Cafeteria. 1963. Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection.