Nebraska Avenue Sundry Store with Geneva Hotel, 2001 Nebraska Ave

Nebraska Avenue Sunday Store with Geneva Hotel (second story) (two-story brick with permanent awning, upper story overhang) 2000 block Nebraska Avenue. 1931. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System

Northeast corner of Nebraska and Palm Avenues. 2021.© Chip Weiner

The Nebraska Ave. Sundry Store was just north of the Centro Asturiano at Nebraska and Palm Avenues. Sundry stores carried various goods, similar to drug stores in the 1920s. This one sold sodas, cigars, candy, and perfumes, along with some medications. It also had a soda fountain. Upstairs was the Geneva Hotel, run by Geneva Floyd. When this photo was taken in 1931, in the middle of the Great Depression, it was run more like an apartment house where rooms rented for between $2 and $3 per week. Next door stood a Standard Oil station.

In 1945, the entire building was for sale for $1650. It is gone, and there are few records regarding its deposition. It is now a parking lot serving the construction crew rehabilitating the former German Club. Metro Inclusive Health and CAN Community Health purchased the old club for $1.7 million and opened it in 2021 with programs, health services, and information for the LGBT community.

From Burgert Brothers: Look Again, Vol. 2

Nebraska Avenue (2000 block) in vicinity of Centro Asturiano, intersection with Palm Avenue, and adjacent property: (Ybor City) 1931. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System