Falk Building at corner Tampa and Polk Streets

Falk Building, corner Tampa and Polk Streets

Falk Building at corner of Tampa (700 block) and Polk (200 block) streets, back and side facades . 1924. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System

Teco Plaza- at corner of Tampa (700 block) and Polk (200 block) streets- 2021 © Chip Weiner

Offin Falk and his brother Morris opened their first store in Tampa in 1895. He bought out the J.T. Burch store in 1898 at Franklin and Polk streets and later expanded to build the 3-story store in 1923 at Tampa and Polk. Offin’s son David joined the business after World War I and became president. This building was renovated with two stories added by 1934, and the name of the building changed to O. Falk’s.

The store closed in 1970. In 1979, Tampa Electric Company (now TECO Energy) began building this 9-story structure, taking over the entire block. Notice the rail tracks that are still in place today.

From Burgert Brothers: Look Again, Vol. 1