From the early 1910s through the late 1920s, real estate offices grew in numbers throughout the Tampa area. Nationwide advertising drew the attention of northerners looking to make it big, and real estate was promoted as a no-lose proposition. Joseph G. Parslow, a Tampa native, was in real estate in 1909 and built his business enough to open this building at 1002 Florida Ave. around 1920. Two tire stores, Sim’s Tires to the south and United Tire Store to the north bookended the building with Roark’s Barbershop and Parslow’s Realty office in the middle. Barbour Ward interior furnishers were behind them in the Henderson Building, and to the north was E.J. Daniel Co., sheet metal contractors. Records indicate Parslow left the building around 1925, but the tire businesses continued.

By 1929, Palmetto Tire had taken over the Sim’s spot, and then Ferrar Tire moved in in the mid-1930s. By 1944, it was a B.F. Goodrich dealership that survived through the mid-1950s. Clark’s Cut Rate Drugs and Valdez Hair Design School were also located here in the mid-century. In 1987, after a remodel, the building turned into a chiropractic office as Chiropractic Consulting Service. In 1995, Papia Chiropractic took over.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved