Congress Inn, 4636 N Dale Mabry

Congress Inn 4636 N Dale Mabry. Circa late 1960s. Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection

Construction for the $350,000 national franchise chain Congress Inn at 4636 N Dale Mabry Hwy began in 1961. With their motto “Highway Hospitality Coast to Coast,” the motel offered a cocktail lounge, a dining room, and a coffee shop. Focusing on business travelers and located near Tampa International Airport, they also offer complimentary airport pickup. They had a showroom that featured dancing to live music. In 1963, they changed managers and focused exclusively on commercial clients by launching the BOQ (Business Office Quarters) Club, which offered members premium services such as a telephone answering service, teletype service, and an on-call stenographer.

In 1967—the same year the “Big Sombrero” Tampa Stadium opened just down the road, drawing crowds for University of Tampa Spartan football—the Congress Inn rebranded itself as King Arthur’s Inn. The new name paid homage to UT’s athletic booster club, adopting its title for the revamped showroom: the Sword and Shield Room. It quickly became the go-to spot for pre- and post-game revelry with passionate Spartan fans. For years, King Arthur’s Inn was a vibrant member of the bustling Dale Mabry Strip, sharing the spotlight with nightlife landmarks like the Mardi Gras Room at the Old Orleans Motel and the tropical-themed Hawaiian Village with its Polynesian Paradise.

The Spartans played their last game in 1974. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise played its first game at the stadium in 1976.

By the late 1970s, the energy shifted once again when the Mandarin Restaurant and Lounge took over, serving Chinese cuisine until closing in 1979.

By 1981, the party was over. The motel closed and sold all of its contents. The Charter Executive Center took over the property and opened office condominiums on the site after paying $1.8 million for the 125-room run-down building. Prices for the office condos started at $30,000 for a 300 sq ft space with a bathroom and shower. It was a tough sell. Charter made it until 1988.

In 1989, Precision Motor Cars, selling Mercedes-Benz and SAAB cars, moved to the property. In the early 2000s, the business became part of the Courtesy Autogroup and was known as Mercedes-Benz Tampa. They remained on the lot until 2013, when Tampa Mitsubishi took over.

By 2018, Tampa Mitsubishi was in trouble, and by the middle of 2019, it was in default of a reported $6.5 million. It suddenly closed in May 2019 amid complaints of failing to pay bills and of deceptive sales practices.

In 2020, EchoPark, a national franchise, opened a store at this location, but it only lasted until 2023. The company still operates in the Southeastern United States with stores in Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina. EchoPark now sits empty.

Office in Congress Inn, most likely in the BOQ (Business Office Quarters) Club, Tampa, Circa 1960s. Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection

North Dale Mabry Aerial with Precision Motor Cars location. circa 1980s Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection