Building Demolition Reveals Ghost Signs

A piece of St. Pete's past was revealed last week when the Jazz Club building at 5th Street and Central Avenue was demolished.

After the dust settled, signs of former businesses that used to be on the block — Ermatinger's, Hayward's Toy Shop and Wisteria Confectionary — were left on the building of what is now . 

According to Kai Warren, a board member with St. Pete Preservation, the signs are probably from the 1920s or early 30s. 

"The signs speak to vitality of downtown," Warren said of St. Pete's history of having a busy downtown area. "They give you a little history of the art of commercial signage."

Warren said other ghost signs in St. Pete can be found on the north side of the and also inside . Recently, he said, an old Coca-Cola sign was found on the west side of the bar.