Lerner Shops- 701 Franklin Street

Lerner Shops, 701 Franklin Street, northeast corner of Zack. 1929. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy of the Hillsborough County Library

Beach Bank, 701 Franklin St. 2021. © Chip Weiner

In 1895, this 3-story building with its signature Victorian Spire fronting the corner at 701 Franklin St. was built by banker John Trice when he opened Citizens Bank and Trust Co. He later moved to a larger building, and the National City Bank took over in 1917 9see photo below). The banking industry crashed in 1929, and the bank went into receivership. Lerner Shops, after a $30,000 remodel, moved in in 1929. In 1937, Lerner’s moved next door when it took over the former Maas Brothers Haberdashery (seen in the photo) and entered a 30-year lease. The building lost its unique spire when Chandler’s Shoes remodeled and moved in that same year. That brand lasted until 1955, when they were purchased by Baker’s Shoes, who remodeled the store.

The building returned to its banking roots in 2012 when Sabadell United Bank moved in. In 2017, it became Beach Bank and remains the same today.

© Chip Weiner 2023. All rights reserved

From Burgert Brothers: Look Again Vol. 1


National City Bank Building on corner at 701 Franklin Street. 1924. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System