Louis Wohl and Sons, 1705 16th Street.

Louis Wohl and Sons Hotel and Restaurant Supplies warehouse at 1705 16th Street. 1934. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System

Alfonso Architects, 1705 16th Street 2021.© Chip Weiner

First Ybor City Railroad station plaque. © Chip Weiner

1705 16th Street, 2025 © Chip Weiner

This land was the site of the first Ybor City railroad station where Jose Marti arrived in 1891. Louis Whol and Son started their business around 1916, selling masks, costumes, and decorations at 1520 7th Ave. By 1920, their main line was hotel goods, including china and stemware. In 1923, they opened this location as the wholesale warehouse for their goods, and by 1925, they ran the entire operation from here.

The business continued to expand, and the company eventually left Ybor City. They merged with E.H Thompson and Chef’s Warehouse, and the brand still exists today. The Alfonso Architects firm took over the spot in the mid-1990s. The 2-story building and railroad tracks remained until 2023, when renovations began for Mile Ybor, a 34,000-square-foot mixed-use office complex. The new building keeps the former historic building and adds a 5-story residential complex facing 17th Street.

From Burgert Brothers: Look Again, Vol. 2