It seems the Travelodge on Kennedy and North Boulevards, aka Travelodge West, is most memorable, probably because the building is still around. But this one downtown at Lafayette (now Kennedy) and Brush Streets was Travelodge East. They were both built at the same time in 1961 and had around 60 rooms each. Other features included things that we take for granted today, like a heated swimming pool, a television and phone in every room, and air conditioning.   Rooms were decorated in 1960s jewel tones, with green shag carpeting, wood-toned furniture, and an orangish-red velour bedspread. Travelodge East added an attached coffee shop along the Brush Street frontage in 1963. The motel, one of a few downtown late in the 20th century, was demolished in 1980 to make way for the new Crosstown Expressway seen in the new photo. New York-based GPI/Greenman-Pedersen, Inc., an engineering firm, now sits on the northeast end of the lot at the corner of E Kennedy and N. Nebraska Ave.

© Chip Weiner. Old Tampa Photos