The F. Mayo Building was constructed in 1912, during the boom of Ybor City. It was built on land Sera Sanchez and Ignacio Haya purchased from fellow cigar manufacturer V.M. Ybor. They then sold this lot to Adolph and Bertha Ottoi. Adolph died, and Bertha remarried Francisco Mayo, who built the structure. It was a Spanish theater where cigar workers enjoyed Cuban entertainers on the first floor, with living quarters on the upper floors.

The balconies were removed in the 1940s. Along with most other structures in the historic district, the Mayo building was in rough shape in the later 20th century. It suffered a severe fire in the 1970s and was left as a shell and was condemned. In a storm in 1987, bricks fell from the walls and slightly injured a man. It was demolished. In 1992, The Roal Group planned a 3-story, 5,725 square-foot building with offices and stores on the bottom two floors and two apartments on the top. The $500,000 project broke ground in 1994 following years of red tape. In mid-1996, Alexanders Fine Arts Gallery was the first tenant on the ground floor. Since that time, several businesses and restaurants have set up shop. The Stone Soup Company, a favorite Ybor eatery, started here before moving. Agora marketplace and Marcolina’s Fine Arts Gallery are now on the first floor.

The Historic American Buildings Survey image has the wrong address attributed to the Mayo Building. It is titled F. Mayo Building, 1518 East Seventh Avenue, Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL.  But the building was at 1517 East Seventh Ave, across the street.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved