By several accounts, L’il General came to the Tampa area in 1957. This photo, taken in 1959, exhibits some of the benefits of modern convenience stores that were taking over neighborhood grocery stores. They were easy to get in and out of, offered extended hours, and were small enough to be in many neighborhoods. Here, milk was $.59 for a half-gallon, a six-pack of Bush Bavarian Beer was $1.35, and the coin-operated laundromat next door offered washes for $.25 and drying for $.10. However, the openness and late-hour convenience was also a tempting target for robbers. In the late 1950s, hold-ups at L’il General stores were frequent.

Starting in 1982, the Horatio Heaven restaurant did a stint here selling Italian food. By 1984, Da Vinci North took over also serving Italian eats. A French eatery called Café Marseille arrived in 1992, followed by Westshore Bistro in 1996. In 1998, Galley Pizza & Pasta Co. cooked pan pizza for years. Owners Joe and Cheryl Costello decided they had had enough after 30 years and wanted to sell. Tate’s Pizza took over the space in June 2011 and continues today. They were former owners of a popular pizza place on Davis Islands for 17 years.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved