Ferman Motor Car Company, 407-411 Jackson Street,

Ferman Motor Car Company, southeast corner, Jackson Street and Florida Avenue

Cars parked in front of Ferman Motor Car Company, 407-411 Jackson Street, southeast corner of Jackson Street and Florida Avenue. 1949. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System

Truist, 401 E Jackson St . 2021 © Chip Weiner

In 1895, William Frederick “Fred” Ferman, Sr. established the Ferman Motor Company, one of Tampa’s most enduring businesses. According to their website, they are the city's longest continually operating car dealer. They celebrated their 125th anniversary in 2020 with a proclamation from city officials. In 1949, when this photo was taken, World War II had ended, and a period of post-war prosperity was starting. The average cost of a new car that year was $1420.00. The Ferman Auto Group now lists 11 locations in west central Florida, selling numerous brands.

By 1991, the pyramid-topped tower that now takes up the block was preparing to open. Initially, the name on the building was to be Southeast Banking Corp, but before opening the company pulled out. The developer, Landmark Group, renamed it Landmark Centre. Since that time, it has been a whack-a-mole of names. In 1995, SunTrust, renamed from Sun Bank of Tampa, moved from its 34-year-old blue-sided headquarters on Kennedy Blvd. (now the Tampa Police Headquarters) into the tower, and it was renamed SunTrust Financial Centre. In late 2019, SunTrust merged with BB&T and formed Truist. The building is now known as Truist Place. It remains a light beacon downtown, changing its colorfully lit ziggurat for celebrations, holidays, and memorials.

From Burgert Brothers: Look Again, Vol. 1