The Professional Building is the most unique location for your business office in all of Manatee County. Built in the early 1920s in the Commercial or Chicago School Style of Architecture, with Classical Revival touches, its exterior features the three tiers typical of the Commercial Style: an ornate main floor exterior, plain middle story exteriors and a not quite as plain top floor crowned with a cornice.
1925-
Construction begins on The Professional Building: designed by Architects J. H. Johnson of Bradenton and M. Leo Elliot of Tampa, G.A Miller of Tampa, is the "constructor" or general contractor; Updegraff Lumber Company of Bradenton provides much of the necessary lumber, while Office Equipment Company, also of Bradenton, provides the furnishings "from Pins to Safe."
1926-
The Professional Building opens its doors on February 22, 1926 as The Bradenton Bank and Trust Building with almost 90% occupancy. One of its first tenants is Worth Henson and the home office of the Henson Accounting Service. It is the tallest commercial building in Manatee County.
1929-
The Bradenton Bank and Trust fails just three years after opening its doors, a result of the Great Depression. The ground floor becomes retail space and the upper floors begin to be occupied by various professional offices, but the building, like much of the region struggles through the Great Depression.
1930-
E. Glen Grimes moves his law firm from Palmetto to The Professional Building. His firm is still practicing in The Professional Building to this day.
1939-
Holland Cafeteria opens on the first floor. The cafeteria adds ceilings and walls to the first floor.
1940s-
Government Rationing Offices, issuing gasoline and food coupons, open operations on the first floor, after additional renovations.
1947-
Sharp's Drug Store renovates the first floor, including the addition of an art-deco style overhang facing the north and west. The ionic columns in the front entrance and six of the eight arched windows on the west side are removed.
1950s-
The upper floors continue to be occupied by doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants and other professional offices, at full capacity, leading to the building often being referred to as, "the professional building downtown." Each tenant owns a share of ownership in the building.
1983-
William B. King, DDS and his partners sell The Professional Building to members of the law firm, Grimes, Goebel, Parry, Blue, Boylston & McGuire. The law firm has grown to become the building's principal tenant, filling floors five and six.
1983-
Sharp's Drug Store moves from the first floor of The Professional Building to a building a block away.
1983-
Mike Carter Construction renovates the first floor to its original condition, including removing many layers of ceilings and walls added over the years, replacing the six arched windows that had been removed and reconstructing the ionic columns in the front entrance. Read More
1986-
The Professional Building loses its designation as the tallest commercial building in Manatee County when the 12-story Bradenton Financial Center opens its doors.
1989-
Manatee County Clerk of the Court becomes the building's principal tenant, eventually filling four full floors of The Professional Building.
1990s-
The law firm now known as Grimes Goebel Grimes Hawkins Gladfelter & Galvano, PL moves from upper floors to the first floor, which originally housed The Bradenton Bank and Trust.
1997-
The movie, Palmetto, starring Woody Harrelson, Elisabeth Shue, Gina Gershon, Michael Rapaport and Chloe Sevigny is filmed in Southwest Florida. Scenes featuring Woody Harrelson and Tom Wright are filmed on the second floor of The Professional Building, standing in for for the DA's office in the courthouse, although the exterior shots were filmed elsewhere.
2002-
Former State Representative Bill Galvano opens his Florida House of Representatives, 68th District office on the seventh floor of The Professional Building.
2012-
State Senator Bill Galvano opens his Florida Senate, 26th District office on the second floor of The Professional Building.
