Heralded as the best structure in Tampa for small businesses by owner Tampa attorney T.E. Lucas, the $50,000 Lucas building “spared no expense to meet the needs of such businesses” in 1922. The 2-story buff brick structure had storefronts on the first floor and offices on the second. It was fully occupied the day it opened. As an aside, Lucas was sued by Dr. Walter Dyer alleging he was duped in a loan deal with the building as security. As a result, Lucas’s law license was suspended for a year, and he was ordered to pay back the $6,000 loan. Ownership changed to Byers-Fogy, a Tampa appliance business, and the building continued with a strong contingent of law practices in the following decade.

In 1945, all second-floor tenants were evicted from their month-to-month lease. In the following years Anthony J Spoto, MD, opened his ENT practice there. The building was remodeled in 1963, with marble covering the bricks. Retail tenants included Mr. Casual men’s store, Karl’s Beauty Shop, Robinson Apparel, and Fulghum’s Office Supply. Those stores have all gone now. Around 2012, Urban Cantina took the entire first floor and is still in business today.

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