Zi-Chex Drive Inn Restaurant, 3801 Gandy Boulevard, on northwest corner of Dale Mabry and Gandy Boulevard

Zi-Chex Drive Inn Restaurant, 3801 Gandy Boulevard, on northwest corner of Dale Mabry and Gandy Boulevard. 1952. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System

Qdoba, Mattress Firm, T-Mobil, Sports Clips, 3801 Gandy Boulevard, on northwest corner of Dale Mabry and Gandy Boulevard, color final 2020 © Chip Weiner

After World War II, drive-in restaurants were the rage, and Zi-Chex joined the fray in 1952. Unlike other such restaurants, Zi-Chex also had a lounge and served cocktails. Lunches were $0.60, specializing in southern delicacies like fried chicken, seafood, and steaks. Being in close proximity to MacDill Air Force Base was a plus, and they were convenient to the Tampa Jai Alai Fronton to the south and Der­by Lane dog track to the west, sometimes snagging hungry gamblers.

In 1997, the building was demolished, and a 7500 sq ft Hollywood Video store and other retail spaces were built on the corner. The movie store closed in 2008 and Qdoba, a Mexican fast-food restaurant, took over the newly renovated and subdivided space in 2009.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved

From Burgert Brothers: Look Again, Vol.2