This photo from the Tampa Photo Supply collection is Manuel Palacio’s Sandwich Stand. It was also the Tropical Trailor Park, located just east of the railroad tracks at 3905 Gandy Blvd. This photo was taken in July 1951 when Gandy Blvd was significantly less developed but close to MacDill Field. Some of the tenants at the trailer park were soldiers who rented lots for $12.50 per month. The sign on the building shows the popularity of Cuban sandwiches at the time. They were served at a lunch counter along with hamburgers, hot dogs, and coffee. The store, convenient to the park residents, sold meats, produce, beer, and dairy products.  The owners also rented rooms.

Construction for the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, initially called the South Crosstown Expressway, began in 1974 on the former Tropical property. After overcoming years of delays in financial planning, community concerns, and land acquisition challenges, the original 6-mile stretch opened in 1976. An extension to Brandon began in 1979 and opened in 1981. Plans for a 1.9-mile, 30-foot-tall extension running from Dale Mabry to the Gandy Bridge were detailed in 2017. The new 2-lane, $230-million overhead highway (seen above in the 2022 photo) opened in April 2021, enabling drivers to travel nonstop between Brandon and St Petersburg. The U-Haul building in the background is on the west side of the railroad tracks that once ran through Topical’s backyard.

© 2022. Chip Weiner. Old Tampa Photos