Max Argintar, 1522-1524 East Broadway
Storefront of Max Argintar, 1522-1524, East Broadway, with men's clothing displayed in windows. 1930. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Hotwax Glass Company and Hotwax Coffee Company 1522-1524 East Seventh Ave. 2025. © Chip Weiner.
Max Argintar opened his men’s clothing Store in 1908, two years after the Tampa Electric streetcars began servicing Ybor City. One side of the store sold men's furnishings, and the other, trunks and bags. The original store was located in the 1400 block, but after the great Ybor City fire in 1908, he moved to 1522 7th Ave. The store also survived the Great Depression and the devastating urban renewal in Ybor City in the 1960s. The business finally succumbed in 2004 to what owner Sammie Argintar once criticized as too many alcohol establishments as the neighborhood gained popularity as an entertainment district.
Following the Argintar closure, Enigmawear- a contemporary clothing and gift shop- opened as part of the new face of Ybor, selling T-shirts and trinkets. In 2001, the HotWax Glass Co., offering glass pipes, smoking accessories, and vinyl records, opened in the east half of the building and continues its business today. It recently leased the western side of the storefront, and HotWax Coffee Shop, Kava Bar & Tap House opened.
© Chip Weiner. All rights reserved
From Burgert Brothers: Look Again, Vol. 2