YBOR CITY - Jason Accardi offered a nervous handshake after his winning bid of $1.175 million for the Amphitheater, a glittering discotheque for almost 10 years but closed since May.

Accardi, who operates Seven One Seven Parking Services with his twin brother, John, said he bought the nightclub across from Centro Ybor at 1609 E. Seventh Ave. as a real estate investment.

"I'm excited about it," he said. "I don't know what we'll do with it yet. But we own other property in Ybor City like this," he said, citing the Fifth Third Bank building at 2028 E. Seventh Ave., across from the Columbia Restaurant.

But the Accardis, Chamberlain High School graduates who started their valet business as Florida State University students in 1990, have a good track record, said auctioneer Bob Brittain, vice president at Tranzon National Auctions with a local office in Ocala. "I was glad to see Jason get it. His paperwork was all in order."

The foreclosure auction itself, attended by about 30 people including Joe Redner, who once owned a stake in the Amphitheater, lasted about a half hour. The bidding began at $1 million and continued until Brittain gave up on any offer higher than Accardi's.

Redner, owner of the Mons Venus strip club and other local businesses, designed the club, which opened in 1998. He sold his interest in 2002. Redner said he attended Monday's auction to bid, "But not at any price."

A. Paul Johnson, who drove from St. Petersburg, said he had hoped the Amphitheater would sell for a lower price. He considered locating his Apollo Project, a performing, recording and broadcasting business, in the 12,000-square-foot space. But he said he walked around and inspected the 1918-vintage structure and concluded, "It would need a lot of work. If the selling price is too high, you can't do the renovations you want."

Brittain said a 10 percent down cashier's check payment was due at the conclusion of the auction with the remainder due at the Hillsborough County courthouse on Oct. 22 to satisfy Wachovia Bank, in charge of the assets.

Just in case, he told bidders before the auction began, he would keep everyone's business cards on file in case the winning deal failed to go through.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.