Molly Ferrara
Molly Ferrara’s historical marker recognizes a woman whose work connected business ownership with public service. Born Molly Antinori in 1905, she was a Ybor City native and the daughter of Sicilian immigrants.
In 1937, Ferrara founded Columbia Music and Appliances. She operated the business for more than forty years, establishing a lasting commercial presence during a period when relatively few Tampa women achieved comparable prominence as business owners.
Her leadership extended into neighborhood affairs. In 1954, she was elected Alcaldesa of Ybor City, a distinction commemorated on her marker. She served on committees promoting the community and participated in numerous civic organizations.
Ferrara’s service included work with the Hillsborough County Heart Association, Salvation Army, International Trade Committee, and Ybor City Chamber of Commerce. She also became Tampa’s first woman tax collector, adding a municipal responsibility to her business and volunteer commitments.
Ferrara died in 1979. Her marker preserves the history of a local leader whose contributions crossed several areas of community life. Through her store, civic work, and public service, she helped shape the neighborhood in which she had grown up.
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