This structure, built around 1888 for the Robert Monne & Bro Co., is one of two wood framed cigar factories left standing. The other factory, the Salvadore Rodriegez factory is the older of the two.
The most prominent feature of this building are the nine gabled dormers found on both sides of the building.
Like other factory buildings, this factory was home for several cigar manufacturers and cigar related businesses for quite some time.
Robert Monne & Bro Co. were here from 1888 to 1892. They were brought here from New York by an enticing cash bonus offer from the Tampa Board of Trade. While the factory may have moved, they kept an office and warehouse active in New York. One of their popular brands was named El Recurso.
The Fernandez and Saxby Cigar Factory shared the west half of this building with R. Monne & Bro. in 1892.
In 1899 the building was briefly occupied by the Cuban Manufacturing Company, which soon moved to the Palmetto Beach area.
Photo Gallery (click image for full size)
Row 1: Nordacs Factory No.2 (1924); Restored factory front and back views
Row 2: Cigar art from Perez, Marcelino & Co. and Lopez, Alvarez & Co.
Row 3: Tobacco article of “El Recurso” Factory, Jose Lovera ad, Lopez Alvarez artwork
Row 4: Jose Lovera artwork, Nordacs artwork
Row 5: Interior shots of workers machine rolling Swann Cigars
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In 1902 the building was then occupied by the José Lovera Company, a relatively new company at the time from New York.
José Lovera, a native of Spain, learned the tobacco trade in Cuba and later acted as a manager in the Gonazalez, Mora & Co. factory in Tampa. He then acted as a tobacco buyer in Havana before moving to New York his own clear Havana cigar company. Their popular brand was Flor de Lovera.
The José Lovera Company would remain here until 1921, during which time it was absorbed by the Consolidated Cigar Company in 1919.
The next cigar manufacturer to occupy this location was Nordacs Cigar Company, Factory No. 52, from 1924 to 1925. While they were only at this location a short while, I was able to find out quite a bit about the company. Before moving into this large building, they occupied a small 2 story wooden structure in Tampa that no longer remains standing.
In 1926 the building was then occupied by the Perez, Marcelino & Co. until 1941. One of their popular brands was named Tuval.
The building remained vacant for a number of years until it was occupied by the Lopez, Alvarez & Co. cigar manufacturers in 1947. Lopez, Alvarez & Co produced Swann Cigars at this location. This cigar company remained here until 1960. One of their popular brands was named Captain Alvarez.
The building was then purchased in 1960 by the Olivia Tobacco Company, which stayed here until 1999 when they relocated to the Garcia y Vega factory building in West Tampa.
Currently, the building received a complete renovation which restored some of the older architectural features that had been buried under siding over the years. The one feature in particular was the amazing discovery of the “Home of Swann Cigars” sign. During the renovation a replica of the sign was put up that became a centerpiece of the new main entrance. This building is now used as an apartment complex.