Photographs courtesy John Cinchett-Author of "Vintage Tampa Storefronts & Scenes".
This 1940 scene captured the Southern Furniture Company at 1110 Florida Avenue and standing out front are (left to right) Alfred Haubenstock, Saul Haubenstock and Howard Haubenstock. During the 1940s the store was awarded the contract to refinish the furniture at MacDill Air Force Base. In a unique alliance with Elkes Pontiac across the street from the store, they used the dealership’s automobile paint drying ovens to bake on the new finish for desks and chairs. In 1967 the Haubenstock family established Tampa’s first Ethan Allen Furniture Store opening at 6200 North Dale Mabry Highway.