Phenix Building

Phenix Building
Building Information
Location	Palafox and Cedar Streets
Architect	L.C. Sarra
Client	William Fisher
Completion Date	1893
Date Demolished	2004 (from damage received in Hurricane Ivan
Size	three stories

The Phenix Building was an historic building at the corners of Palafox and Cedar Streets, immediately adjacent to the famous Trader Jon's building. An 1893 advertisement in the Daily News read as follows:

  FOR RENT, in the new three-story
building on Palafox, below main, to be
known as "THE PHENIX," the following
apartments:
  Two small store rooms, 10x50, suitable
for fruit or tobacco stores, or for offices,
on ground floor: water and gas.
  Three elegant rooms on second floor,
suitable for offices or sleeping rooms;
S.W. exposure, plastered and papered,
water and gas.
  Hall on third floor, 50x50, plastered
and papered, no columns, has fireplaces,
water and gas, accessible by two flights
stairs. Ventilated from every quarter.
  Terms low to right parties. Apply at
once to
                  L.C. Sarra,
                         Builder

Early tenants included a barbershop, cigar store, and Dunn's Hotel. In 1903 it had become the Bay Hotel, Restaurant and Shooting Gallery.

Its last tenant was Sarah's, an upscale women's clothing store and boutique. The damage it received in 2004 from Hurricane Ivan was so severe, the building (in spite of its name) had to be demolished.