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The 411 On 5 Eleven

Tribune photo by JAY CONNER

The owner of 511 N. Franklin St. envisions plenty of windows for the building, which housed Lerner Shops from the 1930s to 1970s. Windows were blocked to "modernize" the story in the 1950s. A restaurant and offices are planned.

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By JANIS D. FROELICH

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2008

DOWNTOWN - As buildings go, 511 N. Franklin St. hasn't presented its best face in some time. A makeover for Lerner Shops, which operated there from the 1930s to the 1970s, saw the upstairs windows covered by cement blocks.

But when lawyer Chris Kasten bought the property for $2.4 million in January 2007, he had a vision. He wanted to make 5 Eleven on Franklin, as the property will be known, an attractive piece in the revitalization of this part of the city center.

"I've seen a renewed energy downtown within this past year," said Kasten, who has worked downtown for 20 years. "So I believe this is the time to rehab its old buildings."

Planned for downstairs at the vintage structure is Porky's, a New York City-based barbecue restaurant and bar set to open in August.

The upper two floors, vacant since Lerner moved out, will be developed for offices. A long hallway in the middle of the building could be expanded to include an art gallery.

Windows will return to the second and third floors, which have red brick walls and rear views of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The upper floors total 11,000 square feet; downstairs has about 9,370 square feet.

Rodney Kite-Powell, curator of the Tampa Bay History Center, said the building began as a two-story structure in 1903. The third floor was added by 1910.

He said the structure was known as the Sparkman Building and originally housed the Sparkman-Carter law firm. Stephen M. Sparkman, for whom Sparkman Channel is named, served in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"Sparkman was responsible for securing the funding for dredging for the deep channels we have around Tampa," Kite-Powell said.

As for its present state of ugliness, Kite-Powell said it was common in the 1950s to "modernize" downtown buildings.

"The look wanted was of the suburbs, so storefronts were stuccoed over, neon signs were added and windows were blocked," he said.

The building has housed numerous eateries, including the Coach and Horse British Pub in 1998 and The Office Cafe and Grill, which opened in 2006 and closed shortly after.

Leading a tour of the building, Jane Finkel Levin of Levin Investment Realty said the upstairs will have electronic key access, intercoms and other modern technology.

All that's left from Lerner is a broken wall mirror with a rose decoration. Levin said the windows were closed up because retailers didn't want clothes damaged by sunlight.

Construction will begin within 60 days.

Levin said a glimpse of the building's potential is evident downstairs, where the developer Intowngroup is using full-scale models of condominium interiors to market its latest downtown high-rise, Element.

She said the 4,500-square-foot space, which housed Bread and Butter Gourmet Deli from 1997 to 2003, will be divided for offices when Intowngroup leaves in a few years.

Levin said the huge kitchen helped attract Porky's, which will use about 3,800 square feet. The walls recently were painted more contemporary colors, and the space looks somewhat ready for business.

Upstairs is another matter. Levin said Kasten is a "risk taker" but also is realistic about what goes into renovation.

"Commercial doesn't have the same lull as residential right now," she said. "Yet it's still possible to have finished office space sit downtown for six months or so. Our downtown has been very far behind other cities in its redevelopment."

Levin, who has sold downtown real estate for nine years, said rent varies from $19 to $28 a square foot. But she views the Franklin Street corridor as a different portion of downtown.

"It's integrated with all sizes and shapes; so much is possible here," she said.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.

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