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In our last edition, we reported WestShore Plaza had been purchased. Now, the new owners have announced they will demolish it, then redevelop it with shopping, restaurants, office space, apartments, medical offices, recreational facilities, a bus station, and more.

This leaves us wondering what will happen to the existing restaurants and businesses— and when. A demolition permit has not yet been filed, so apparently not too soon. We’ll keep you posted.

Have you ever wondered why many places in South Tampa include the name “MacDill”?

When the air force base opened in 1939, its name was just a literal description: “Southeast Air Base, Tampa”. The man it was later named after, Colonel Leslie MacDill, actually died a year before this base even opened. They could have named it after him from the beginning, but for some reason they didn’t. According to his biography on Wikipedia and MacDill AFB’s website, it appears Leslie never even visited Florida. So why is this military base named after him?

Colonel MacDill was a pioneer of early aviation. He started flying for the U.S. military in 1914, just three years after the first military flight in history. We didn’t even have a dedicated air branch of the military yet! MacDill advocated for the “Air Corps” to be created in 1926, which later became the “Air Force”. So it appears the main reason why this base is named after him is a tribute to helping establish the air branch of the military.

Like many early pilots, his life was cut tragically short by an airplane crash. But his legacy lives on here in South Tampa. The next time you see the name MacDill, think of the man, the legend, the pioneer.

Whether you’re going to the beach, boating, paddling, camping, or hurricane prepping, every household should have a portable first aid kit. Look for the kind that comes in a carry case with a strap, so you can easily take it on any summer adventure.

You can opt to get a kit with the bare minimum essentials for one person, or all the items a family with kids will likely use. First aid kits range in price from $5 to $50 on Amazon*, so you can order one to suit your situation before the hurricanes start rumbling by in August.

If you already have a first aid kit, now is a good time to check if everything in it is still unexpired.

The original Sloppy Joe sandwich was invented around 100 years ago in Florida at a Key West restaurant named Sloppy Joe’s. It’s still an iconic restaurant there, but you don’t have to travel that far to taste it! Their only other location is nearby on Treasure Island.

It turns out a Sloppy Joe is actually an American bastardization of the classic Cuban Ropa Viejo dish. While a Sloppy Joe sandwich is inherently not the best tasting food in the world, Sloppy Joe’s Sloppy Joe is the most flavorful Sloppy Joe I ever Sloppy Joed. Trying the original version of a 100-year old American invention is a great excuse to have dinner on the beach watching sunset over the Gulf!

CORRECTION: in our previous edition’s Foodie Find, the pickle pizza restaurant’s name is Belle’s Pizza Kitchen, not Bella’s.

➡️ If you could bring back a place that no longer exists in South Tampa, what would it be?

Simply reply to this email to let us know! We might feature this place in a future edition’s Hidden History section, especially if you have any old photos or memories to share.

Create a More Enjoyable Community: Our mission is to help you live your best life in South Tampa by creating a more fun and connected community. If you like this idea, there are several free and paid ways you can support it:

Independent & Transparent: The Scroll is independently owned and operated by a South Tampa resident. Positive mentions can’t be bought. We only include things we have personally tried or trust the person who did doesn’t benefit from mentioning it. We do not include links to businesses, unless they are not-for-profit or paid sponsors we have vetted and noted as such. Clicking on asterisked items (*) may provide us with affiliate compensation, which helps fund us to keep creating for you!

Your Local Writer & Founder: Danielle is a lover of food, craft cocktails, wine, travel, nature, and history. After living in Ohio, Dallas, New Zealand, and 37 countries as a digital nomad, Danielle decided South Tampa was the best place to settle in 2022. She blends a world’s worth of experiences with local expertise as a Meetup event organizer and marketing director to ensure The Scroll is always worth your read!