The story
The building is one of Ybor City's earliest brick structures. The state marker dates it to 1895, while another account says Vicente Martinez Ybor built it between 1886 and 1888 as an office for his development projects, which would make it the city's second brick building.
It originally housed the Cherokee Club, briefly known as the Osceola Club, one of Tampa's earliest social clubs. Members included Edward Manrara, Ybor's business partner, and Peter O. Knight, later a powerful Tampa businessman. A restaurant on the ground floor, El Pasaje, took its name from the arcade fronting Ninth Avenue. The building also had a gambling hall, and a rumor holds that it was a speakeasy during Prohibition.
Later tenants included department stores, a nightclub, Cafe Creole and the offices of Creative Loafing. It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, one of the first nationally recognized buildings in Ybor City.
What's There Now
The building still stands across from the Ybor Factory; current tenants were not confirmed.
Everything that was here
- 1895–present
El Pasaje / Cherokee ClubOther
One of Ybor City's first brick buildings, home to a private social club whose members included Vicente Ybor's business partner.
See the map in 1896 →
Did you know?
Nearby history
Circulo Cubano de Tampa (Cuban Club)
Ybor Square
Hotel Haya
The Ritz Ybor
Carne Chophouse
Centro Asturiano de Tampa
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