Perry Paint and Glass Company, 109-115 Brush Street Tampa

Perry Paint and Glass Company, 109-115 Brush Street, at southeast corner of Brush and Washington Streets. 1948. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System

Clyde Perry chartered his company in 1913 before having a location for their business. They found their first home in the Brantley Building at the corner of Tampa and Twiggs Streets, the former home of the Florida Citrus Exchange in 1914. Their primary sales involved paint, varnish, oils, leads, glass, and brushes. They became contractors for the commercial installation of plate and structural glass in storefronts. In 1923, they purchased this land at the corner of Brush Ave and Washington Street and constructed this building in 1927. Perry installed windows in building such as the Tampa Theater in 1926, the new 6-story Tarr Furniture store in 1927, and kept growing by installing windows in the 10-story Marine Bank built in 1961. Following 53 years of service, the company liquidated in 1966. After purchasing the structure for $1.05 million in 1988, Bay Villa Developers did an award-winning $2.5-million renovation. They reopened it as a multi-tenant office building housing three law firms, a CPA, and an architect.

Southeast corner of Brush and Washington Streets, Tampa, FL. 2021. © Chip Weiner

From Burgert Brothers: Look Again Vol. 1