Manuel Katz opened his department store at 2108 7th Ave in January of 1920, selling men’s and women’s clothing and household items. There were professional offices on the second floor. He also ran a store at 307 Main St in West Tampa. Katz joined many other Jewish merchants selling shoes and clothing in Ybor City. The store was open until 1931, when it went out of business like so many other shops during the Great Depression. In 1944, Alexander B Romero got a liquor license for the property, and Pancho’s Restaurant opened, selling Steaks, lobster, and frog legs. The eatery, across the street from the Columbia Restaurant, lasted less than a year.

In 1945, when the Burgert photo was most likely taken, the building sold for $9,000 to Frank Balbontin, and Celso Cigars moved in. The cigar industry was suffering, and smaller manufacturers took the place of large factories. World War II had just ended, and hopes were Ybor would revitalize to its former glory. That didn’t happen. As soldiers returned, they moved to areas with ready work. By 1947, Celso was bankrupt. Vets Surplus store opened in 1948, followed by Leo’s Supply in 1955. Records of the building fall off after the 1950s. It is now a parking lot for the Columbia Restaurant.