The building was constructed in 1912 at 858 East Zack Street, directly across Nebraska Avenue from Tampa Union Station.

[4] On December 11, 2000, the Old Union Depot Hotel building was recognized with a listing in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

After a lengthy period of disuse, and nearly a decade after its NRHP designation, the building suffered a collapse of its roof and was deemed to be hazardous.

[4] The Union Hotel and Cafe began its operations during the era of racial segregation, and functioned as an establishment for "whites only".

[4] The Jackson Rooming House building, incidentally, was built during the same period as the Union Depot Hotel, and is also NRHP-listed.