Convent of the Holy Names

Convent of the Holy Names at the corner of Twiggs and Morgan Streets. 1925. Burgert Brothers.. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System

Twiggs and Morgan Street. 2021. © Chip Weiner

Many people are surprised to learn that downtown Tampa was once home to a convent. Started in 1881 by Sisters of the Academy of Holy Names from Key West, they moved the Catholic school from a two-room structure in an abandoned blacksmith shop in 1891 to this two-story building on Twiggs Street between Morgan and Pierce. It was named Convent of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary and served as a school until 1925. The building was razed. When they moved out, the school was temporarily housed at 2408 Central Avenue but moved to its current location on Bayshore Boulevard, now known as the Academy of the Holy Names, in 1928.

The building was leveled in 1926 for the new concept City Markets at Pierce and Zack Streets. It housed from 40 - 56 stores (depending on which announcement you read) under one roof that opened in 1927. It featured poultry, produce, bakery goods, and fish in the same block. It was renamed B&B Cash Grocery in 1944 and U-Save in 1968. In 1991, The City Markets building was torn down, and the parking lot that was created remains. This Burgert image depicts the rear of the convent building at Twiggs and Morgan Streets. The building in the modern photo was once a Goodyear store and transitioned to Tire Choice in 2017.

From Burgert Brothers: Look Again Vol. 1