Records show that Jose Otero moved his furniture business from 1314 Howard Avenue to the larger storefronts at 1711–1713 Howard Avenue in the mid-1920s. Along with furniture, the shop stocked toys—dolls, tricycles, and wagons—making it a favorite stop for West Tampa children. The Burgert Brothers photograph captures the building in 1932, just months before Otero’s store closed.

The property entered a new chapter in the early 1950s when Sicilian immigrant and pharmacist Peter Cimino Sr. and his family purchased and modernized the building, updating the façade and opening Eagle Drug Store after relocating from 1702 North Howard Avenue in 1953. The Ciminos later expanded the store northward, increasing its footprint along the block. In 1962, the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce awarded Cimino a certificate of merit for improving the appearance of the site.

Founded in 1930, Eagle Drug Store became a multigenerational neighborhood institution, passing from Peter Cimino Sr. to his son and then to his grandson. After more than seventy years of service to the community, Eagle Drugs finally closed its doors in January 2001.

Rick Caldevilla, owner of Caldeco Air Conditioning & Heating, purchased the building that same year for his operations. In 2003, he expanded to open a showroom. When doing so, they uncovered a 12-foot-tall mural depicting a Cuban scene, along with the Statue of Liberty and an American flag.  Another sign read “Buy U.S. Defense Bonds & Stamps,” helping him date it to the 1940s. He suspected that the murals were covered when Eagle Drugs expanded in the 1950s. He also explains that, before Eagle expanded, the wall was an exterior wall facing a courtyard. Patrons could buy a drink at the drugstore and enjoy it on the patio. Caldevilla did his best to preserve the mural, repainting and touching it up in spots, and adding icons where others had faded. Caldeco continues to operate from the same building today.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved