New York chain Mangel’s women’s apparel opened its Tampa store at 606 Franklin Street in 1927, next door to retail giant Maas Brothers. Touting the buying power of 70 stores nationwide, they joined a growing number of clothiers, shoe stores, and druggists focusing on downtown retail growth. In 1949, they renovated the building and occupied the space next door, 608 Franklin.  They removed the Victorian architecture witch hat spire that was a signature of the block for decades. According to newspaper reports, a year after the remodel, a small fire broke out in the air conditioner, causing 15 customers trying on clothes to scamper into the streets in various stages of dress. No severe damage or injuries were reported.

The store flourished into the 1960s when the downtown retail boom went bust. In 1974, Mangel’s filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Blimpie’s Subs spent some time here in the late 1990s, and Mr. Empanada renovated and opened in 2004 even though Maas Brothers next door had been condemned. The entire block was demolished in 2006 and is now a surface parking lot. 

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