K.R. Lau, the owner of a heating and plumbing supply company, built this structure in 1926 as a car storage garage for $65,000 and equipped it with heavy-duty electric elevators to lift autos to the upper floors and the roof. In 1927, Smith Chevrolet moved their used car lot from Grand Central (now Kennedy Blvd.) and North Boulevard to this location at Florida and Henderson Avenues in Tampa Heights. The area was growing in popularity, and what was known as Auto Row on Franklin Street was a block away. In 1932, Smith merged with South Florida Cadillac Co. to form the Sharpe and Smith Co. and moved from this location. Holtsinger’s Used Cars moved here in 1934 and changed the name on the building from K.R. Lau to Holtsinger’s, a nameplate that remains today.

By 1955, it was also known as Holtsinger’s Ford Supermarket. In 1960, Holtsinger resigned their Ford dealer license, and Bill Curry Ford took over the location. That lasted until 1965 when this building, built for cars, changed its use for the first time in 40 years and became Florida Athletic and Clothing Store, selling men’s clothes and sportswear.  They renamed themselves Champion Sports, Inc. and moved that same year. The Salvation Army purchased the building in 1979 and moved their 102-bed shelter men’s program here in 1980. They moved operations from this site to a newer facility diagonally across Florida Ave., which was built in 1985.

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