Tampa's historic Maas house is now for sale on Bayshore Boulevard - Florida News Beep

Credit: Zillow

The century-old home of Isaac Maas, co-founder of “Greater Tampa’s Greatest Store,” is now on the market in Old Hyde Park.

Located at 907 Bayshore Blvd., the estate was completed in 1923 for Maas, who along with his brother Abe, founded Maas Brothers Department stores, which at its peak was Florida’s largest department store south of Jacksonville.

The Maas home was designed by architect Franklin O. Adams, who has been referred to by Tampa Bay History Center director Rodney Kite-Powell as “one of the city’s best and most prolific architects of the 20th century.”

Adams was best known for his work with Florida land boom developer D. P. Davis and his Davis Islands development, as well as Plant High School, the Davis Islands Pool (now the Roy Jenkins Pool), and others.

Isaac Maas moved to Florida in 1886 to open a business in Ocala, and one year later joined his brother Abe in Tampa to work at his store, Dry Goods Palace, which would eventually become Maas Brothers.

After outgrowing two locations, the company built its third and largest location in 1921 at the corner of Franklin and Zack streets in downtown Tampa. This flagship location, which had everything from toys to ball gowns, also sported the state’s first escalator.

The downtown location eventually closed in 1991 and the building was demolished in 2006. The City of Tampa approved the demolition after Wood Partners, a developer, promised to build a 32-story, 503-united condo on the site, according to the Tampa Tribune. That never happened, and the lot is currently a 717 parking lot.

Over the years, the Maas Brothers brand was bought and sold and became what is now known as Macy’s.

Isaac died in the home in 1935 at the age of 73 after battling an undisclosed illness for two months.

The Maas home has had quite a few notable owners since his death. Arguably one of the more prominent occupants was former Tampa mayor and white supremacist Donald Brenham McKay, who purchased the home in 1938. McKay owned Tampa’s Daily Times newspaper, and was also the head of the whites-only White Municipal Party, which fought to keep Black candidates out of local elections.

Today, the 5,665-square-foot home comes with four bedrooms and five bathrooms, and was given an “extensive” remodel in 2021, says the listing. The home now features custom millwork, coffered ceilings, a wood-paneled study with a humidor, a guest house, a pull-through two-car garage with alley access, and more.

The Maas home is currently asking $5.95 million, and the listing agent is Jennifer Zales of Coldwell Banker Realty.

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Photos via Zillow