Hotel Almo and Restaurant, 313 Cass Street

Hotel Almo and Restaurant at 313 Cass Street

Hotel Almo and Restaurant at 313 Cass Street and Florida Avenue. 1929. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System

Former JJ Newberry Department Store. 2021. © Chip Weiner

Hotel Almo was built and opened in 1916, boasting of shower baths and being close to car lines (streetcars). It was built more for everyday travelers than the hi-brow Tampa Bay and DeSoto hotels. The Almo Café & Restaurant was located on street level and took up the corner.

In 1933, it became the Gilbert Hotel, and by then, the Café and restaurant had been separated (the café sold beer). The building was torn down in 1940 to make way for the new JJ Newberry department store.

From Burgert Brothers: Look Again, Vol. 1