We all know Cob & Pen is a great place to grab a bite + drink in Lakeland, but do you know the story behind the historic building? Keep reading to learn how the restaurant came to be, by the numbers.
- 1927 — the year the building was built. Originally known as The Tudor House, the iconic structure was built 95 years ago as a home on the corner of West Beacon Road and South San Gully Road.
1935 — the first year the home was relocated. After spending a few years on West Beacon Road + San Gully Road, owner O. Forrest McGill moved the home to a spot on Lake Hollingsworth Drive.
The Tudor House in its new location on S. Florida Ave. in 2014 | Photo via @ginathepetnanny
- 1969 — the year Gene Holloway purchased the home. Gene expanded on it, adding a bar + a ballroom with the intention of using the home to entertain. Those efforts paid off in the ‘70s when Elvis Presley visited after playing at the Lakeland Civic Center, now known as the RP Funding Center.
- 1987 — the year the home was re-purchased. The head of neurosurgery at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Robert Mozingo, bought the home from the Holloways. It was under this ownership that another well-known guest walked the halls, former first lady Barbara Bush.
The Tudor House when it was moved to South Florida Avenue | Photo via @ginathepetnanny
- 2014 — the year the home came into the possession of a developer, who hoped to demolish the structure. However, Greg Fancelli ended up purchasing the home and relocated the building for the last time to its current location at 1221 S. Florida Ave. Here, the building underwent restoration and got a new addition that mirrored the existing structure.
- 2016 — the year Cob & Pen opened. After sitting vacant on South Florida Avenue for a few years, the restaurant you know and love opened its doors to the public.
Be a part of Cob & Pen’s history and bring your friends for food and drinks + tag us in your Cob & Pen pics for a chance to be featured.
