The Tampa Harbor Club
This past week the Tampa historical abandoned Harbor Club on the Hillsborough River in Sulpher Springs burned down in the early morning hours. It was a huge barn like old military style Quonset building. There was a restaurant, retail spaces and bars on the lower floors and the upstairs was an open hall for dancing. In the late 1990’s it was famous for having the largest African American Lesbian night in Florida.
In about 2002, the Suncoast Resort leased the empty huge vintage significant 1920’s building. It was near the mineral healthy springs, Sulpher Springs that were built up and a famous tourists attraction 1920’s to 1960’s. At the time we were told the Suncoast had purchased the property. Later we were told it was a lease to purchase. We were asked to open a MC FILM Gay Pride store on the first floor. It was a very small space about 12 ft by 16 ft. Across the hall from us was the Tampa Leather Store and a newly installed gay restaurant facility overlooking the Hillsborough River. There was even a small marina for boats to come and park.
The Suncoast guys spent a huge amount of time, energy & money to clean out the dirty old wooden building, renovate, re- paint, re- repair and then opened as the Tampa Eagle. We also made new additions, painted, added new lighting fixtures and new glass windows were installed at our expense. Robert, the person we thought was the previous owner was very creepy and actually was living in an old apartment separated in the building.
There was a Grand Opening and things started off great. Sunday Tea Dances were re-started in Tampa! But remembering the area was Sulphur Springs, a more blighted area of Tampa back then next to the dog track. Security officers were place on the outer boundaries of the property for customer protection.
Unfortunately sales did not continue to rise in the new location. Robert started to hang out at our small shop a lot. He was constantly complaining about everything and everybody. About 7 weeks went by. Then one Friday night Robert came into our small store and said to me, “ starting this Saturday and every Saturday from now on we owed him $100.00 every week for additional rent.” We told him that “our agreement was with the Suncoast Resort and not him.” To this he shouted back very loud, “To pay him tomorrow or Else!!!” I asked, “Or else what?” to which Robert screamed, “You will find out and not like it!!!”
I then called the Suncoast and they told me they “would deal with it.” Hum…. OK you don’t have to threaten me. That night, after Robert had passed out ( oh yeah a very good drunk he was), I packed our van up with everything that would fit. Then next day I called our friends and asked for Help!!! We arrived at the Harbor Club 1 hour early and moved everything into a U Haul moving truck.
Just as we were closing the van a car pulled up, stopping in a cloud of dust. Out jumped Robert screaming, “What the F*#K are you doing?” We just smiled and said that we had just moved out.
About 2 months later the Suncoast Resort pulled out too!!!