The Hyde Park subdivision, known for its brick streets in bungalow homes, was developed in the 1920s as part of the Florida land boom. United Markets was a big player in neighborhood grocery stores, and this one, No. 49, at the corner of Azeele and South Howard, served what is now affectionately called Soho. When this picture was taken in 1927, the real estate market was falling apart. For rent signs can be seen in the middle store here. Southern Candy Company, a wholesale confectioner, took up the northernmost spot in the building. Apartments were on the top floor.

In the 1930’s Mario’s Beauty Salon was the anchor tenant marketing itself as “Not the cheapest, but the best”. In the 1940s, Harmon’s Tiz-Nu auto paint service offered to paint your car here for $5.95 with no fuss, no muss. Their paint store lasted until the mid-1960s when Paul’s Used Furniture opened. In the early 2000s, Cappy’s Pizza called this building home until it moved to Bay to Bay in 2006. In modern times, the most notable tenant here has been the trendy bar Cheap, which took over when Cappy left. On May 9, 2019, Cheap announced on its website and Facebook page that it was temporarily closing due to structural concerns in the building that the landlord had refused to fix. As of early 2025, the business is still closed, and there is a no-trespassing sign on the door.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved