Located directly across Florida Ave from the main post office and Federal Courthouse (now Le Méridien Hotel), the Bentley-Trezevant building housed many businesses since it opened in 1928. The Tampa Bay Drug Company was the first prime tenant but moved in early 1930. Morrisons Cafeteria, which operated several cafeterias throughout the south, signed a 10-year lease in 1931 for $6,900 per year and opened its doors after completing a $12,040 renovation. It quickly became a downtown staple with its polished modernistic silver and black dining room, uniformed, no-tipping workers, and less expensive food. For example, Thanksgiving dinner in 1934, including roast turkey, dressing, and cranberry sauce, and was $0.23. It was the middle of the Great Depression, and disposable income was limited.

Guests would go through the line and select the items they wanted, and “a boy” would carry their tray and help them find a table. That same server would get seconds for any diner desiring them. Morrison’s moved to the Vinson Building in 1947 and operated there until 1969.

In 1964, plans were announced to build a new 22-story, $6-million Exchange National Bank building on the site. It was the first building in the city to utilize the air above the sidewalk for conditioned space. The basement housed drive-in banking. The green porcelainized aluminum screen above the windows was used to cover the 6-floor parking garage. Now known as the Franklin Exchange Building, The Wilson Company purchased the block, and the building is now a multi-tenant office building.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved