Whether we go back 15 years or 3 months, parts of Tampa are almost completely unrecognizable.

Of course, with change comes the good and the bad. Tampa now has renown food scene, world-class music venues, sports arenas, clubs, and quirky neighborhoods. But the city’s rapid growth hasn’t come without a cost. Our city is also currently struggling with things like stagnant low wages, a severe lack of affordable housing and areas that are becoming increasingly gentrified and segregated.

It’s impossible to know exactly what Tampa will look in the near future, but for now we can at least look back and see how far we’ve come.

All photos via Google Maps

Then- 2007 Florist Botanica 2616 S MacDill Ave.

Then- 2008 J.D. Smith Termite Pest Control 5229 N Florida Ave

Then—2011 Vacant service station 520 E Floribraska Ave

Then—2008 Nebraska Mini-Mart 4815 N Nebraska Ave

Now Nebraska Mini-Mart 4815 N Nebraska Ave

Now Goody Goody Burgers 1601 W Swann Ave

Then- 2007 Vacant parking lot 815 Water St.

Now The Heron, Water Street Development 815 Water St.

Then- 2011 Channelside Bay Plaza 615 Channelside Dr

Then- 2007 Shell Gas Station W Cypress and N Himes

Then- 2007 Shapes Total Fitness 3808 W Swann Ave

Then- 2007 Parking lot 7th Ave and N 14 St

Then- 2007 Presbyterian Village 739 W Green St

Then- 2008 Tampa International Center Adamo Dr. and S 20 St

Then- 2008 Laptop Experience 5016 N Florida Ave

Now Independent Bar and Cafe 5016 N Florida Ave

Then- 2008 Avalai’s Market N Florida Ave and E Hanna Ave

Now Jug & Bottle N Florida Ave and E Hanna Ave Credit: c/o Google Maps

Then- 2007 The Chambers 1701 N Franklin St

Now Formerly Hall on Franklin, soon-to-be Urban Hawkers 1701 N Franklin St

Then- 2007 Bay Armature Supply 16301 N Franklin St

Then- 2007 Hidden Springs Ale Works 1631 N Franklin St

Then- 2008 K & R Automotive 6618 N Nebraska Ave

Now Gangchu Chicken & Beer 6618 N Nebraska Ave

Then- 2008 Stephano’s Pizzaria and Italian Eatery 6607 N Florida Ave

Now Wicked Oak BBQ and King of The Coop 6607 N Florida Ave

Now Woven Waters Brewing Company 456 W Columbus Ave

Then- 2008 Stajac Industries 2601 E 2nd Ave

Now Coppertail Brewing Co. 2601 E 2nd Ave

Then- 2011 Tampa Police Headquarters Madison St. and Franklin St

Now Tampa Police Headquarters Madison St. and Franklin St

Then- 2007 Parking garage North Ashley St. and Polk St.

Now Glazer Children’s Museum North Ashley St. and Polk St.

Then- 2007 Oceanic Oriental Supermarket 1609 N Tampa St.

Now Oceanic Oriental Supermarket 1609 N Tampa St.

Then- 2007 ABC Auto Remarketing 6006 N Florida Ave.

Then- 2007 Rico’s Taco’s 913 E Hillsborough Ave

Then- 2007 Green Shift N. Nebraska Ave and E Giddens Ave.

Now The Shoppes of Seminole Heights N Nebraska Ave and E Giddens Ave.

Then- 2007 Empty lot 5119 N Nebraska Ave.

Now Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe 5119 N Nebraska Ave.

Then- 2007 Parking lot (Whiskey Park South) 718 S Howard Ave.

Then- 2007 Chateau SoHo 516 S Howard Ave

Then- 2007 Pach’s Place 2909 W Bay to Bay Blvd Suite 100

Now Counter Culture 2909 W Bay to Bay Blvd Suite 100

Then- 2007 Sticks-N-Stuff 4302 W Gandy Blvd

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