The M. Bustillo (Morgan) building has a very rich history. It has been the home of six cigar companies and has been named a landmark of West Tampa.
Like a lot of the research I put into these factory posts, I found many variations of the Bustillo name. Therefore, I’m using them all at one point or another between this article and the previous Bustillo Bros post.
These guys changed partners more times than Fleetwood Mac.
In 1914, after Bustillo Bros & Diaz were acquired, Moises Bustillo and his brother Felipe created M. Bustillo & Company. They located their company at the old Morgan factory on the corner of Howard Avenue and St. Louis Street.
Cigar Brands: Beauts, La Flor de M. Bustillo, Darby & Joan
In 1919 M. Bustillo & Co. moved to the old Sanchez & Haya Co. Factory #1 in Ybor City until it was demolished in 1922.
Photo Gallery (click images for full view)
In 1922 Moises Bustillo formed a partnership with Jack Merriam and the company was renamed M. Bustillo and Merriam.They established a factory at 17th Ave. & 16th St. in Ybor City. They then moved twice thereafter to 2311 18th Street, a building that had been vacated by Marcelino Perez Co. and in 1929 made a final move to the F. Lozano, Son & Co. building. M. Bustillo & Merriam closed for good shortly after Moises death in 1943.
The M. Bustillo (Morgan) factory is currently used as office space.