The factory was built for the Berriman Cigar Co. in 1903. At Berriman’s peak it housed 700 workers. By 1910, Berriman outgrew this West Tampa building and moved to Ybor City.
Cigar Brands: Jose Vila, La Serenidad, Marc Anthony (Berriman), Independente, House of Morgan (Morgan)
In 1910, the Morgan Cigar Co. moved into the building. In this location they could accomodate up to 1,000 workers and roll more than 11 million cigars each year.
Morgan Cigar manufactured cigars at this location until 1962 when Gradias, Annis & Company bought the business.
In 1964, General Cigar Company took over the factory. In the 1970’s the building was used as a tobacco warehouse.
Photo Gallery (click images for full view)
In 2004, Nicholas Jammal, a local West Tampa Engineer, purchased the factory building for $600,000. The factory has been restored to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for the Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings.
In 2010, the building became the home of Argosy University. They occupied all three floors of the old factory.
2020 Update: Argosy University entered into federal receivership on January 18, 2019 and its schools closed on March 9, 2019. Unfortunately, this factory building is now vacant.