Tarr Furniture Building, 520 N Tampa Street
Tarr Furniture Company on 500 block of Tampa Street, at southwest corner of Tampa and Twiggs Streets. 1925. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
The former Tarr and Haverty Furniture Building at the southwest corner of Tampa and Twiggs Streets, Tampa, FL. 2021. © Chip Weiner
The Tarr Furniture Company started as Wyatt-Tarr in 1907 and was a large furnishings provider for the area, including businesses like the YMCA, in 1910. In 1912, The Tribune Publishing Company, led by W.F. Stovall, agreed to construct a 4-story ( a fifth story was later added) and lease it to the Tarr Furniture Company. Stovall regretted the decision soon after the contract was signed, wanting to keep the building for the newspaper, but stuck to the deal. Tarr moved from its store on Franklin Street to this new building in late 1912 and was known as Tarr-Martin by then. They remained at this location until 1927 when they moved to Lafayette (now Kennedy Blvd) and Hyde Park Boulevard.
In 1937, the first floor did a brief stint as an illegal bingo hall called Pastime Bingo. After some difficulty, most likely brought on by the Great Depression, Haverty Furniture remodeled the building and moved in in 1939. They did business here until 1972. That same year, McDonald’s Corporation began rehabilitating the building to open the first downtown McDonald’s Hamburgers restaurant. It opened in 1973 and remained open until 1993 when the Casper’s Company, owner of the franchise, did not renew the lease. In 1996, First Watch, an upscale breakfast eatery, opened on the first floor and remained there until demolition plans were announced in 2022. In 2021, real estate developers the Kolter Group bought this and adjoining property and filed for permits to demolish this and the other buildings to construct 55-story high-rise condominium. In early February 2023, the demolition began.
© Chip Weiner- oldtampaphotos.com
Haverty Furniture Company building. 1939. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Pastime Bingo exterior as seen at night with neon signs advertising grand opening and people looking through windows to inside. 1937. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Interior of Pastime Bingo with customers seated at counter with their coats and hats. 1937. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
The former Tarr Furniture building being demolished during the first weekend of February 2023. © Chip Weiner
The property was acquired by the Kolter Group with plans to build a 55-story condominium building. © Chip Weiner
There were no attempts to preserve the architectural detail of the 100- year old building. © Chip Weiner
Former Tarr Furniture building being demolished 02-04-2023 © Chip Weiner