Ybor developers partner to buy historic cigar factory
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Aug 3, 2023

Three families with deep roots in Ybor City have partnered to purchase the historic Seidenberg Cigar Factory building.

Alliant Partners, which has a longstanding partnership with Alfonso Architects, partnered with Ellison Cos. to buy the 36,640-square-foot building at 2000 E. 11th Ave. The sales price was $9.25 million, according to Hillsborough County property records.

The seller was Tampa-based Ally Capital Group, which recently acquired Urban Centre in the Westshore business district. ACG paid $4.725 million for the building in 2016, according to property records.

“Spencer Muratides, our partner in Alliant Partners Development, was the principal that brought this opportunity to our attention and after discussing it among the group, we all decided to pursue it,” said Carlos Alfonso.

Alliant Partners, Ellison Cos. and Alfonso Architects are all based in Ybor City. The group said in a statement it is in the process of evaluating its plans for the property, which is 100% leased to multiple office tenants. Fintech firm TransferWise has occupied 21,500 square feet there since 2017.

“We’re excited to own a piece of Ybor’s history with our friends and partners, the Alfonsos and the Ellisons,” Frank Capitano, managing partner of Alliant Partners, said in a statement. “As a group, we all respect Ybor’s enduring spirit and unique energy. So, when this opportunity presented itself, we jumped at the chance to own such an iconic property.”