Maas Brothers, Tampa, Florida


 



AUTHOR MICHAEL LISICKY'S
NEWEST BOOK - 
CELEBRATING FLORIDA'S GREAT
MAAS BROTHERS
Maas Brothers
610 Franklin Street
Tampa, Florida
   


Main Floor
Fine Jewelry • Silverware • Costume Jewelry • Aisles of Beauty • Toiletries • Hosiery • Scarves • Gloves • Handbags • Small Leather Goods • Main Floor Blouses • Main Floor Sweaters • Main Floor Lingerie • Casual Shop • Notions • Stationery • Fine Candies • Sunshine Book Shop • Records • Suncoast Fountainette

 Men's Shop Men's Furnishings • Men's Sport Shirts • Men's Sweaters • Men's Sportswear •   • Gear Shop • Boys' Shop •Gear Shop

 Mezzanine
Men's Shop Men's Clothing • Men's Shoes • Men's Hats • Cambridge Shop • Trendsetter Shop • Television Center • The Sound Center

 Second Floor of Fashion
Shoe Salon • Pacesetter Shoes • Casual Shoes • Misses' Dresses • Misses' Sportswear • Active Sportswear • Coats and Suits • After-5 Shop • Town 'n Country • Boulevard Room • Mrs. M Shop in the Boulevard Room • Boulevard Room Fur Salon • Boulevard Room Bridal Salon • Promenade Shop • Midtown Shop • Career Shop • Better Sports Dresses • Pacesetter Shops • Pacesetter Coats • Hide Out Shop • Clubhouse • Fur Storage • Millinery Salon • Hat Bar • Maternity Corner

 Third Floor
Lingerie Fashions • Loungewear • Fashion Foundations • Intimate Apparel Shop • Cradle Shop • Children's World • Children's Shoes • Girls' Shop • Pre-Teen Wear • Debuteen Shop • Shindig Corner • Special Events Center • Camera Shop
Jr. World Young Juniors • Junior Sportswear • Junior Dresses • Junior Coats • Junior Lingerie

 Fourth Floor
Linens and Domestics • Bath Shop • Table Top Shop • Drapery Centerc • Custom Upholstery • Fashion Fabrics • Art Needlework •White Sewing Center • Beauty Salon

 Fifth Floor
Housewares • Small Electrics • Gift housewares • Magicolor Paint Center • China • Glassware • Crystal • Fine Gifts • Antique Shop • Flame & Flower Shop • Major Appliances • Outdoor Shop • Garden Shop • Outside Awnings • Auto Accessories • Toy Center • Sporting Goods • Sports & After • Suncoast Restaurant • Gourmet Shop • Citrus Fruit

 Sixth Floor
Floorcoverings • Furniture Center • Casual Furniture • Sleep Shop • Collector's Shop • Et Cetera Vignettes • Pictures and Mirrors • Lamps and Shades • Clocks

Seventh Floor
Offices
(191,000 sq. ft.)




St. Petersburg (1948)
3rd St. and 1st Ave. N
267,000 sq. ft.


 (1948-1959 pre-expansion - 167,000 sq. ft.)

Harrison Galleries
Housewares • Small Electrics • Gift housewares • China • Glassware • Crystal • Gifts • Antique Shop • Linens and Domestics • Drapery Center • Floorcoverings • Furniture Center • Sleep Shop • Collector's Shop • Pictures and Mirrors • Lamps and Shades • Clocks

 Great Main Floor
Sunshine Corner Fountainette • Fine Jewelry • Silverware • Costume Jewelry • Aisles of Beauty • Toiletries • Hosiery • Scarves • Gloves • Handbags • Small Leather Goods • Hat Bar • Main Floor Blouses • Main Floor Sweaters • Casual Shop • Main Floor Lingerie • Notions • Stationery • Camera Shop • Better Foods • Citrus Fruit • Candy • Sunshine Book Shop • Records
Men's Shop Men's Furnishings • Men's Sport Shirts • Men's Sweaters • Men's Sportswear •  Men's Clothing • Men's Shoes • Men's Hats • Boys' Shop

 Second Floor
Budget Sportswear • Budget Dresses • Budget Coats • Budget Shoes • Fashion Fabrics • Art Needlework • White Sewing center • Sunshine Room Restaurant

 Third Floor of Fashion
Shoe Salon • Misses' Dresses • Misses' Sportswear • Women's Dresses • Casual Dresses • Inexpensive Dressess • Coats and Suits • Designer Shop • Fur Salon • Fur Storage • Bridal Salon • Millinery Salon • Beauty Salon • Lingerie Fashions • Loungewear • Corset and Bra Salon • Intimate Apparel Shop • Cradle Shop • Tot's Shop • Children's Shoes • Girls' Shop • Pre-Teen Wear • Debuteen Shop • Special Events Center • Junior Sportswear • Junior Dresses • Junior Coats • Junior Lingerie

 Sunshine Annex
Major Appliances • Television Center • The Sound Center • Outside Awnings • Auto Accessories • Toy Center • Sporting Goods



(Post 1961 expansion - 267,000 sq. ft.)

 Lower Level
Housewares • Small Electrics • Gift housewares • Magicolor Paint Center • Auto Accessories • Toy Center
Maas Brothers Budget Basement Store

 Great Main Floor
Sunshine Corner Fountainette • Fine Jewelry • Silverware • Costume Jewelry • Aisles of Beauty • Toiletries • Hosiery • Scarves • Gloves • Handbags • Small Leather Goods • Hat Bar • Main Floor Blouses • Main Floor Sweaters •  Main Floor Lingerie • Shoe Salon • Pacesetter Shoes • Casual Shoes • Men's Shoes • Notions • Stationery • Camera Shop • Gourmet Shop • Citrus • Fine Candies • Sunshine Book Shop • Records • Pictures and Mirrors • Fine Gifts • Flame & Flower Shop • Men's Furnishings

 Second Floor of Fashion
Floridian Sportswear • Floridian Dresses • Floridian Coats • Sunshine Room Restaurant • Misses' Dresses • Misses' Sportswear • Active Sportswear • Coats and Suits • After-5 Shop • Town 'n Country • Boulevard Room • Mrs. M Shop in the Boulevard Room • Boulevard Room Fur Salon • Boulevard Room Bridal Salon • Promenade Shop • Midtown Shop • Career Shop • Better Sports Dresses • Pacesetter Shops • Pacesetter Coats • Hide Out Shop • Clubhouse • Millinery Salon • Maternity Corner • Beauty Salon • Lingerie Fashions • Loungewear • Fashion Foundations • Intimate Apparel Shop • Cradle Shop • Children's World • Children's Shoes • Girls' Shop • Pre-Teen Wear • Debuteen Shop • Shindig Corner
Jr. World Young Juniors • Junior Sportswear • Junior Dresses • Junior Coats • Junior Lingerie

 Third Floor
Fashion Fabrics • Art Needlework •White Sewing center • China • Glassware • Crystal • Linens and Domestics • Bath Shop • Table Top Shop • Special Events Center

 Store for Homes
Major Appliances • Drapery Center • Custom Upholstery • Floorcoverings • Furniture Center • Casual Furniture • Sleep Shop • Collector's Shop • Et Cetera Vignettes • Lamps and Shades • Clocks • Antique Shop • Television Center • The Sound Center • Outdoor Shop • Garden Shop • Outside Awnings

 Store for Men
Men's Sport Shirts • Men's Sweaters • Men's Sportswear •  Men's Clothing • Men's Hats • Cambridge Shop •  Trendsetter Shop • Gear Shop • Boys' Shop • Gear Shop • Sporting Goods • Sports & After







Lakeland
Kentucky at Lemon Streets.
1954
145,000 sq. ft.
Imperial Room

Sarasota
Washington at Main
1956
141,000 sq. ft.
The Everglades Room
Store for Homes
4130 Gandy Boulevard
1956
54,000 sq. ft.



Clearwater
302 Cleveland Street
 1961
168,000 sq. ft.
Suncoast Restaurant

Ft. Myers
Edison Mall
1965
129,000 sq. ft.
West Shore Plaza
Tampa
1967
237,000 sq. ft.
The Green Room
Gainesville Mall
Gainesville
1968
112,000 sq. ft.

Tyrone Square
St. Petersburg
1972
163,000 sq. ft.
Suncoast Restaurant

Bradenton
DeSoto Square
1973
112,000 sq. ft.
Suncoast Restaurant

University Square
Tampa
1974
141,000 sq. ft.
Suncoast Restaurant
Countryside Mall
Clearwater
1975
142,000 sq. ft.
Suncoast Restaurant

Sarasota Square (1976)
Sarasota
187,000 sq. ft.

Winter Haven (1977)
Winter Haven Mall
60,000 sq. ft.
Naples (1977)
Coastland Center
66,000 sq. ft.

Talahassee (1979)
Governor’s Square
138,000 sq. ft.

Coming in Due Course.




 
Posted by

72 comments:

  1. Anonymous13 January, 2011 16:39

    I mean this entire website is amazing. This information I didn't know was even on the internet. This is stuff I've been looking for years, specifically Maas Bros but everything else as well (Burdines, Hechts, Kaufmann's, Woodward & Lothrop, Rich's and so so so many more). The Maas page is great. One correction just to put out there is that I beleive the restaurant at the Westshore Mall store was called The Suncoast Restaurant.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bob19 May, 2011 22:35

    Maas's was a fantastic store. My Aunt Polly was the hostess in the Suncoast Grill in the Edison Mall store in Ft. Myers in the '60s and '70s. She told me it made her feel special to go to work each day there. And what a great selection of everything in every store. The old store in DT Tampa was ancient and had been clabbered together from parts, even one wing had been a movie theater in the 1920s but it was a great place....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown10 September, 2020 11:11

      Wow, I never heard anyone mention the movie theater my mother work there when I was born 1958

      Delete
    2. RocketGuy5314 November, 2020 17:02

      We moved to Tarpon Springs, FL from Ohio when I was turning six in 1959. My mom was raised in Detroit so liked big city shopping and department stores. We would shop in downtown Clearwater at a small clothing store but not too long after they put up the Clearwater store and that was the place we did most of our shopping. We would visit the St. Pete location once at Xmas for the upper floor animated Xmas display as well as once a year or so go to the West Short Plaza store. Later in the very early '70s they put up the Countryside store in Dunedin and that became her store until she passed away. Most of my clothes and some other things I wore and used growing up came from Maas stores.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous20 May, 2011 17:08

    The last one came after Ocala. It was Gulf View Square in Port Richey, opened in 1983.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous03 November, 2011 10:05

    I worked for Maas Brothers for a short time at the services desk when I was 19 years old.

    I like to think about how I am a part of it's history too.

    julie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John Doherty -Security04 July, 2016 08:02

      I too worked for MB, 1984 Store Detective, LP Mgr in Gvn and Ocala. Next 7yrs Corp Investigator. I loved working there.

      Delete
    2. Unknown04 June, 2019 14:05

      There was also a location at Britton Plaza.

      Delete
    3. Unknown10 September, 2020 11:13

      Why did the locations close?

      Delete
  5. Anonymous15 November, 2011 01:15

    In the late 1960's, I worked in the Womens Dept. at the West Shore Plaza store in Tampa. New hires first worked in the receiving dept at the Gandy Blvd store to learn about the merchandise and to see if we would work out. A special treat were the house made blueberry muffins served in the restaurant and available for purchase. So many people still miss that store.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous01 October, 2012 09:09

    I have a mink hat from Maas Brothers. It is for a woman. Anyone know what its worth or interested in owning it. If you have any info please contact me via email buisnesssocial091320012@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous24 May, 2013 14:04

    You are missing a location: They had a smaller one story store in Northgate Shopping Center in Tampa in the 1960s (and maybe into the 1970s). It stocked clothes, shoes, and there was a Boy Scout section where one could purchase "official" items. They also sold car tags in the store during the time of year when one had to buy a Florida tag.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Rick Tolbert17 June, 2013 15:14

    I worked for the Ft. Myers/Edison mall Mass Bros store from 1987-1988 when I first got out of the Marine Corps, before I started school. Many great memories of great people on staff. John Scanlon (men's accessories), Katy Wichterman (household goods), Kim Cherry (management), Jennifer Ross (cosmetics) and many others.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous22 June, 2013 22:27

    I WORKED AT O.FALKS BACK IN THE 1954-1960.I WORKED IN THE BEAUTY SHOP FROM 1954 TILL I GOT MARRIED IN 1960.I WAS A MANACUREST. PAT AND JACK ALVAREZ RAN AND OWN THE SHOP AT THE TIME. IT WAS A VERY CLASSEY PLACE TO WORK.THE WERE ABOUT 25 HAIRDRESSERS AND TWO MANACUREST THERE.THE SHOP WAS A VERY CLASSEY PLACE TO WORK. IF YOU WORKED THERE YOU COULD GO OUT AND GET A JOB ANY WERE. IT HAD A VERY GOOD NAME. EVEN THO THE PRICES WERE HIGH. I MADE A GOOD LIVING THERE UNTIL I MOVED TO MIAMI.IT HELP ME TO GET A GOOD JOB IN MIAMI AT J.BALDE ON MERICAL MILE . THAT WAS IN 1958 WHAT A GOOD TIME TO LIVE AND WORK IN MIAMI.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous08 July, 2013 18:39

    My dad was the advertising director and worked at the Downtown Tampa store. Oh how I miss that store.

    ReplyDelete
  11. TampaPix28 October, 2013 17:01

    Here's a web page with some early history of Maas Brothers. www.tampapix.com/maas.htm

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous21 November, 2013 21:03

    I believe there was a Maas Brothers in the Gulfview Square Mall in Port Richey. It probably opened in the early 1980's. Of course it is now a Macy's. What a dissapointment.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mr Willie Jones08 May, 2014 00:16

    This is a great web-site devoted to best Maas Bros. I started there in 1970 downtown Tampa Store. The Flag Ship of all the Stores. My name is Willie Jones, I worked in Shipping & Rec. I later became the 1st black dock supervisor at this store. Some new me as just Bill. Great place to work, and most of all great bunch of co-workers to work with. Candido Perez & Norman Felts on the Dock. Carolyn Lester in personal dept. who use to be the Registered Nurse in the Clinic there. She got Skp Davis Job as personnel mgr when he moved up-to Executive Personnel Mgr on 8th floor. Mr. Gillespie was the Operations Mgr. also. Mr. Charles Gray was Store Mgr. Cassandra Tucker worked in Jewelry dept 1st floor. All great people...I really miss Maas Downtown! If any former employees see this give contact me to say hello at: wjones161@tampabay.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Classic Creations by Claudia10 May, 2014 10:48

    I will be searching this blog more later, on my Kindle now, want to look at it on my computer.
    Found it doing a,search for O'Falks Department Store. My father was a window dresser there for years, and I have wonderful memories of those days, then switched to Maas Brothers and worked at both the St. Petersburg store and West Shore Plaza.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous14 May, 2014 22:26

    My first job out of college was in the ad dept of the downtown Maas Brothers store in 1981. I remember dress codes, nylons and paste ups and the beautiful fashion sketches done by Maria. It was unbelieveably glam at the time. I also remember my weekly trips to the Westshore Maas Bros with my little sis to get hot fudge sundaes in tulip cups in the green room.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous26 June, 2014 14:43

    I, too, desperately MISS the Maas Brothers stores. My 1st experiences were in the FORT MYERS store in the EDISON MALL ! On occasion my grandmother would take me & my mom (her daughter) there shopping & then we always went to their 2nd floor restaurant for a
    WONDERFUL MEAL !!!!!
    Their stores always had quality merchandise -- which I came to appreciate even more when I became a woman, did my own shopping, & finally had my OWN Maas Bros.' charge card !!!
    I recall 3 items that still stand out in my mind as sooooooooooo very special !!!!! One was a fabulously well made, gorgeous green sun-dress that tied on both shoulders (I wore it until it wore out !!! I wish I'd bought 4 or 5 of them & I might still have one now !!! It looked MARVELOUS & sexy on me, while still being refined !!!!!!! The other was a fabulous Black, Quilted ROBE with tiny red/pink roses on it. I also wore it until I wore it out ! I also wish I'd bought at least 1/2 dozen or so of those !!!!!!! And lastly, after I grew out of my fear of MICROWAVES (and needed to lose about 15Lbs) I bought my very 1st (large) table-top microwave from Maas (it cost more than other stores: $286 in 1987, but was quality & I had it for 15yrs !!! ). I lost those 15Lbs quickly & easily as my new microwave cooked up those "Lean Cuisine" meals in just a few short minutes & kept me from eating the heavy meals I made for my extremely hard working husband & son -- both big boys (not fat big, just BIG !!!) & to think my 200Lb son was a 5Lb preemie !!!!!!!! I took excellent care of him (Roy Wayne Hansen, Sr.) & so did his dad (the MARVELOUS -- Roy Lamar [Skeeter Hansen] !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Yes, I miss & have missed MAAS BROTHERS soooooooooooooo terribly over the years !!!!! No other store I know of has the quality & beautiful, fabulous items that MAAS BROS. had & that is VERY, VERY SAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I, still, to this day haven't been able to find a robe anything like the one I got at MAAS, nor have I ever found a quality sun dress like the one I got at MAAS either. Such a terrible shame !!! Ms. Barbara Ann Barker Hansen

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous18 August, 2014 23:15

    Well I have an very old an nice fur coat.....from Maas Brothers....I wish I could fine a way for you all to see it......Look like 1930s

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous06 November, 2014 22:17

    I loved Maas Brothers in the Edison Mall in Fort Myers in the early- to mid-1980s. The best part of the store was the estate jewelry counter. I would look at each piece and imagine the life it had when in another's possession.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous07 December, 2014 23:36

    I miss the one in DT St Petersburg. ate at the restaurant there once. Glad to have volunteered at the Florida International Museum. As for the one in Downtown Tampa, in my college years at tampa USF, I would walk through the area and imagine what that maas store was like when it was open.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous18 December, 2014 20:33

    Recently at a community yard sale in Orlando,I picked up a porcelain China trade goods bowl. What caught my eye was the gold trim rim. As I turned to check the trade hallmark It read "DECORATED IN HONG KIONG ESPECIALLY FOR MAAS BROTHERS . I HAD TO BUY IT AS A PIECE OF FLORIDAS HISTORY.{WE2ARECONFUSED@GMAIL.COM}

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous19 May, 2015 22:54

    My mom used to take me to the Maas Brothers in Ft. Myers (Edison Mall) and we'd enjoy the shrimp dinner @ the restaurant. I loved going there :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous13 June, 2015 08:44

    Miss the class and charm of department stores like Mass Brothers. When visiting in the 70s, always had to go to their store and "Webb City,Aunt Hatties, etcd.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Jenison24 June, 2015 00:55

    Talbot Boudreau Obituary - Sylvan Abbey - Funeral Home | Clearwater FL
    Obituary for Talbot Boudreau, Arrangements under the direction of Sylvan Abbey - Funeral Home, CLEARWATER, FL.
    obits.dignitymemorial.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous27 September, 2015 10:55

    I'm trying to find the name of a moisturizer leg cream that was sold by Maas in the Ft Myers Edison Mall. I think the original cosmetic company that created the moisturizer for legs sold out to another company. This product gave legs a very unique shine. I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  25. Unknown06 December, 2015 22:47

    We used to go shopping at the Ft. Myers Maas Brothers for school clothes in the 1960's & 70's. We always had lunch at the Maas Brothers Restaurant. I always had the Cook's Kettle with the soup, finger sandwiches and a fruit bowl. I loved the Minestrone soup. Sure wish Maas Brothers was still around. The good old days are gone forever along with the good food they served.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous09 January, 2016 22:08

    My mother worked at the downtown St. Petersburg Maas Brothers during the 1950's and 1960's. I had taken her to visit the Maas Brothers exhibit (I think it was called "Thanks for the Memories") at the Florida International Museum back in 2003. There was an enlarged photograph hanging on the wall of what appeared to be an employee Christmas party (circa mid-1950's). My mother was in that picture. I am trying to find out where that picture may have ended up after the exhibit closed. If anyone can give me information as to how I could locate it, I would greatly appreciate it. My mother is now 93 years old, and it would mean a great deal to both of us if we could obtain a copy of this photo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ruthie03 September, 2017 14:47

      I have seen some enlargements of memorable scenes from St. Petersburg history at American Stage Theater which is located on the St. Pete College site downtown, at the same location (3rd St. North) where the Maas used to be. I have no idea whether any of these enlargements were part of the FL International museum exhibit or not , but they are fun to look at and who knows what you might find there ?!

      Delete
  27. Anonymous17 January, 2016 14:14

    My mother worked at the downtown St. Petersburg store in approximately 1961. She was divorced with 4 children. Back then, the female sales personnel were required to wear a black dress. Only being able to afford one black dress, she wore the same one everyday.

    One day the store manager asked her why she always wore the same dress. She explained that it was all she could afford since she was divorced with four children. He told her to go to the better dress department and pick out any dress she wanted free of charge. He never asked my mother for anything in return.

    To this day, the kindness of this man still brings tears to my eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Unknown16 February, 2016 16:28

    My mother worked at the luncheonette in St. Pete for 30 years

    Charles Nuttall

    ReplyDelete
  29. Unknown16 February, 2016 16:29

    My mother worked as a waitress in the luncheonette in the St. Pete store for 30 years.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Unknown04 May, 2016 03:08

    My mother worked at the Downtown Tampa location upstairs in the bookkeeping offices. I remember how there was always a draft in her office and she got pneumonia every couple of years. But she loved working there. She also loved shopping there because she knew that Mass Bros would beat other stores prices... Then she'd use her employee's discount on top of that! We'd get to eat at the restaurant every now and then too.(with her discount of course) They had good fried shrimp! I also won their Buccaneer's Mascot of the Week in 1980. And got 2 tickets to a game, went to watch a practice at the old One Buc Place, a team signed football and some team shirts! Sure do miss the old Mass Bros!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Unknown04 May, 2016 03:15

    My mother worked in the bookkeeping office at the Downtown Tampa store in the 70s-80s. She loved shopping there because she knew a secret: Maas Bros would match other stores prices, then she'd use her employee discount on top of that! The restaurant was nice too! I even won their Tampa Bay Bucs Mascot of the Week in 1980 and got 2 tickets to a game, meet and greet with the players at a practice, 8x10 photos and a couple Bucs Shirts! Miss the Maas Bros stores!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Unknown04 June, 2016 16:11

    My mother was the Fashion Director for all the Maas Stores, loved her job.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Unknown12 June, 2016 02:34

    I worked in Tyrone Maas Brothers store in my senior year of high school in the early 80's. It was such a lovely store! I remember the hair salon on the first floor by the front entrance with great hair products which I bought with great pride. There was a second floor restaurant that I would treat myself to once in a while. Four generations of my family shopped at Maas Brothers. When my parents got married in downtown St.Pete my grandmother insisted they go to the photo department and have pictures taken. Thank goodness she did because they were the only photos of that day. I remember feeling so special when I walked into MB - there were four generations of my family that shopped there for years. It is a part of my family history. Miss it very much.
    I so enjoy reading everyone's story and history with this company. Thanks for this site!!
    J Spencer

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous13 October, 2016 08:34

    I loved the Maas Bros. store in Downtown Sarasota. They carried the best quality merchandise in every department. They were very good and loyal to their employees and went out of their way to accommodate their customers. They would open the store early for a good customer if you could not get there during regular hours. It's a shame what happened to the company and a great loss to our community. I REALLY MISS THAT STORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous18 October, 2016 22:31

    Another Maas Brother Store was at the old East Lake Mall and Tampa Bay Mall, both malls are gone, East lake is now Network office complex while Tampa Bay is now part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers office complex.

    Also, Maas was not in North gate, but at the Floriland Mall.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dieselbum19 March, 2017 15:40

      Maas Bros. never had a store @ East Lake Mall and Burdines was the store @ Tampa bay Mall. Downtown Tampa, University Square mall, and the store at Northgate (which was a outlet store).

      Delete
    2. Anonymous29 March, 2019 13:25

      No Maas at Floriland. It was at Northgate

      Delete
    3. Anonymous29 March, 2019 13:26

      Maas Bros was at North Gate not at Floriland

      Delete
    4. Anonymous15 July, 2020 13:22

      Maas Brothers had a small store at the NorthGate shopping center in Tampa before FloriLand was ever built. The NorthGate store had limited selection (as it was smaller) than the big stores. My grandmother worked in the cash office there. There were no registers on the sales floor, and everything was transacted via pneumatic tubes. At Christmas, she would point me to a drawer in one of the display tables, where I was allowed to put a couple of toys, which Santa would then deliver to me later. For many years, Maas was only open Monday-Saturday. When they added Sunday, she quit her job. My grandfather had worked at the downtown Tampa store during the late 1940s selling lawnmowers.

      Delete
  36. Dargan Earle02 November, 2016 18:20

    We loved shopping at Maas Brothers in Lakeland. I grew up with Maas Brothers. It's very sad how shopping has changed, not just here in Florida, but across the country : (

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous31 July, 2022 23:49

      I also shopped so much at the Lakeland store, loved Heidi in the Estes Lau counter , shopped there weekly much to my dear husband’s fear , I miss that store . No other store can compare

      Delete
  37. Dargan Earle02 November, 2016 18:21

    I miss Maas Brothers, growing up with this great department store when I was a child. It's a shame what has happened to retailers like this, not just in Florida, but all across the country : (

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous14 January, 2017 15:45

    Worked DT Tampa in the buying office from mid 70 to mid 80s. In fact, just got out in time before they closed. Loved shopping at that store. Couldn't beat our employee discounts. The buying offices were a dump but still loved the frantic atmosphere. BTW -- the Maas Brothers was definitely at Northgate, not Floriland.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown24 April, 2017 17:31

      My mom Bonnie Michaels worked at the DT Maas about the same time.

      Delete
  39. Anonymous04 February, 2017 13:18

    Lived near and shopped at the Clearwater Maas Bros. in the 1970s...It was "the landmark" everyone gave directions starting from...Loved it, and even in Florida, we would 'dress up' when we shopped there, it was 'an event' like having lunch or afternoon tea in their dining room. So good celebrating with everyone again, recalling what is now a bygone era in American retail and our past.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Anonymous12 February, 2017 19:44

    This was truly one of the best dept. stores ever,how I miss the quality of the merchandise..me and my mother spend countless hours in the Ft Myers store..miss it ..love this Web site capturing memories..

    ReplyDelete
  41. Unknown16 July, 2017 19:59

    In 1954 I won the MAAS Brothers cutest baby in Tampa.
    Still have the original paper clipping.
    My mother saved that and my trophy.
    I wish they were still open so I could see the store.
    If anyone remembers the photo contests please drop me a line.
    H50twinbo2@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Unknown09 December, 2017 10:40

    I lived in the Fort Myers area for six years as a teenager. I bought most of my clothes at Maas Brothers Juniors Dept. The highlight of my holidays each year was going shopping there with my mom the day after Christmas to get a new wardrobe at clearance prices!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Unknown09 December, 2017 10:45

    I lived in the Fort Myers area as a teen in the early 1970s. I got almost all my clothes at Maas Brothers at the Edison Mall. The highlight of my holidays was going shopping there each year with my mom the day after Christmas to get new threads on clearance from their Juniors Dept.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Anonymous10 January, 2019 01:13

    Maas Brothers as well as Burdine's featured a wonderful Suncoast Restaurant on the second floor of the Sarasota Square mall branch. Many families of shoppers were able to enjoy a full-service shopping and dining experience. How wonderful it was to enjoy a lovely luncheon and/or dinner with all the trimmings. They also featured a wonderful Sunday brunch that was quite popular with the many loyal locals and tourists alike that came for shopping and dining. There was quite a sense of loyalty between the guests, management and staff of the store. What made these stores special was that local connection was customized throughout the entire store. It was truly wonderful. Thank you for this wonderful place BAK. God Bless and Great Thanks as always !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BAK10 January, 2019 08:37

      Thank you for the kind comments about this site!
      -Bruce

      Delete
    2. Unknown23 July, 2021 21:42

      I love this page. I was a child model for Maas Brothers. My debut was in a stroller. I worked the tea room in Downtown Tampa & was also in Tribune ads. Our communities lost a lot when Maas was no more.

      Delete
  45. Nancy31 January, 2019 13:45

    Does anyone have any of the old Maas Brothers recipes that were used in their restaurants...loved their black bean soup and tea sandwiches...would love the recipe

    ReplyDelete
  46. Alice Gray30 July, 2019 11:49

    My grandfather was the advertising director and worked at the Downtown Tampa store. Oh how I miss that store.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous04 September, 2022 23:20

      Was your grandfather’s name Oscar?

      Delete
  47. Anchorlady8002 August, 2019 13:10

    I worked at the Tyrone Square Maas Brothers in St. Pete in the early eighties and eventually transferred to the University Square store in Tampa near USF.  My best friend's mom JoAnn worked there prior to me, and I remember going there to shop & visit with her often... My BFF & I were on their teen modeling board and years later I ended up getting hired as a sales associate. It was definitely a glamorous place, and we had to abide by a dress code, (hose, heels, dresses), etc. I worked in practically every department, (as a "contingent"), so I knew the merchandise, & fellow employees throughout the entire store very well. The excellent training I received there served me well for my post college career, (back when customer service was crucial, before we became online shoppers & do-it-yourself type customers)...I gained customer service & merchandising skills, and I became an assistant for one of the area sales managers, which was a blast. The management would have monthly meetings (sometimes in the Suncoast Restaurant upstairs), and would mention folks who had achieved record sales & we even had a newsletter they distributed called "Candid Yams", (which was nice for moral & motivation). Several of my friends worked there with me, and after work we would go out to socialize at Bennegins, Steak & Ale, Cowboy, and of course to hang out at the mall & theater. Great memories, and I miss the old Maas Brothers!
    Molly Mathews

    ReplyDelete
  48. Unknown26 September, 2019 18:25

    I loved the pickled herring as a child! Clearwater and Gainesville were wonderful stores!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Unknown24 October, 2019 12:23

    I remember working for a MAAS Brothers store in Flint Michigan in 1972

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  50. BAK24 October, 2019 13:33

    The Maas Brothers store from this article is NOT the same store. They never had any Michigan branches. Perhaps a family with the same name had a retail business in Flint, but they would not be related.
    -Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  51. Unknown16 April, 2020 17:57

    My mother-in-law worked at Maas Brothers in the 1930's and 1940's in Bookkeeping. My wife got her first job there as a part-time salesperson, and she worked on the Teen Board. I worked at the warehouse on Gandy, downtown in Men's Furnishings, helped open Gainesville and West Shore. My wife and I met in Men's Furnishings in 1966. A Maas Brothers family.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Unknown20 November, 2020 00:26

    I have an Maas Brothers fur not knowing what it is nor worth. I am in New Mexico how do I peruse to find out what type of fur it is and the value? Businesskimi@gmail.com...anyone thank you for your help.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Unknown20 December, 2020 14:18

    I worked at the Tallahassee Maas Brothers from before its opening in 1981 and loved everything from training onward. Don Severance was my Department head in Men's wear and Randi was our head of sales until I became HOS briefly. Had hilarious memories of inventory with the late Wilma Fong and truly enjoyed the atmosphere. Had a chance to work in almost every department and even acted as a dresser at a fashion show for charity. Miss you, Maas Brothers.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Cyndi04 January, 2021 10:40

    I used to love their Praline Coffee! Coffee that had Praline liquor, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a large chocolate wafer cookie. YUMMY!

    ReplyDelete
  55. pcrum06 January, 2021 16:53

    The key lime pie at the Suncoast Restaurant was the absolute best. We enjoyed it at the Westshore and University Square locations. I would love to find the recipe! Love this site!! Thanks for the great memories!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Unknown22 October, 2021 07:21

    No other company like them. I started as part-time employee while going to school and was then placed in the Executive Training Program. Worked as Ready to Wear manager in several locations and the transferred thru Allied to Minnesota. Fondest memories of all co workers and management. Like Family.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Unknown22 October, 2021 15:54

    What a great website. My father, Talbot Boudreau Sr, worked for Mass Brothers for almost 40 years. As store manager he opened the Gandy Store, then DT Clearwater, then Westshore and later became VP of stores and lastly Executive Vice-President. I remember visiting stores with him and anytime former store employees saw him they would flock to him to say hello. He really loved his job and treated his employees with great respect and value.
    The employees at Mass Bros. were truly unique in retail. The service was exceptional-it was clear they enjoyed working there.
    On birthdays my brother and I had the most incredible cakes from their bakery. One I remember was the solar system made with 3-d planets! Dad would often bring home a box of cinnamon twists for breakfast. They were incredible. There are a couple different recipes online but try as I might I just can't make them the same. The 'great department store wars' of the 90's destroyed so many great institutions all over the country. So many 100-year-old businesses
    became consolidated or closed. This wasn't because they weren't profitable but because over-zealous corporate raiders weren't nearly as smart as they thought they were.

    ReplyDelete

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