Orlando Regions Bank

In its hayday, Sears, Roebuck & Company was the leading retailer of the nation, if not the world. Small wonder then that Orlando felt it was destined for greatness when, in 1931, Sears entered the Orlando merchandising field. Sears obtained a 15-year lease on the Phillips Apartments at 115 North Orange Avenue. The retail store occupied the first floor, and Sears continued to operate the hotel and apartments that existed on the two upper floors.

A few years before Sears came to town, a well-known local entrepreneur, Claude H. Wolfe, Sr., became the new owner of Frigidaire Sales & Service at 19 East Washington Street, around the corner from Phillips Apartments. A lifelong booster of downtown, Wolfe accomplished a great deal as President of the "get-things-done" Jaycees (Orlando Junior Chamber of Commerce) and, as Chairman of the Orlando Parking Authority, built five downtown parking lots.

Business at Sears was so lucrative that, three years after the store was opened, it had to triple the size of its retail space at a cost of $60,000. In 1939, the Sears building was sold for $300,000; but Sears remained in that location. In 1959, the property was sold again; this time for $1.1 million. In 1962, Sears bought 30 acres on East Colonial Drive for a new store and announced its downtown store would remain open; and it did until 1974.

Walking around the corner from Sears in 1951, you first encounter Wolfe’s Frigidaire Store on Washington, then Valet Press Shop—which could put a sharp crease in your pants while you waited—and next to that, the Yellow Cab office. Looking at the Cathedral at St. Luke on the left and at St. James Catholic Church, its rectory and offices on the right side of the street.

At the corner of Jefferson Street and Orange Avenue—the block containing Sears—you encounter the Kiddie Korner, which has furniture and children’s clothing. Next, as you proceed north, is one of the early appliance dealers, Associated Stores of Orlando, and then Glen Spears’ Fine Men’s Store. Then, there is Berkman and Sons Jewelers, followed by Brenner’s Women’s Clothing. Adjoining is Biggs-Louis, Inc., which eventually became Gibbs-Louis, the finest women’s store of its day. Biggs-Louis encompassed Thomas J. Baynham Shoes as well as Beauty Bar Cosmetics. And right next door is Sears, from whence we started.

—Ormond Powers