Q. What is it supposed to be on the show? A. The Miami Commerce Bank. Q. Where is it supposed to be on the show? A. Somewhere in Miami. Q. When did we see it on the show? A. In Episode 10, of Season 5, "In The Beginning". Debra and Quinn go to the bank to talk with Alex Tilden, the only survivor of Jordan Chase's rape gang (other than Jordan himself). Alex, a banker, sits behind his desk and fields questions. They tell him that they are investigating the barrel girl murders, and Alex says he saw it on the news, and that it is "pretty shocking". He asks what it has to do with him. Debra tells him that Cole Harmon was a suspect, and that Alex's name turned up on a list of Cole's acquaintances. Alex admits he knows Cole, but pretends that it's just through a mutual interest in a Fantasy Football League. He denies knowing either Boyd Fowler or Dan the Dentist. And he pretends to have never met Jordan Chase. Debra & Quinn exit the bank, and talk as they walk. Debra implies that Alex will be dead soon, and Quinn asks her if she really believes that a vigilante is killing off these people one-by-one. She replies that anyone who knew what they were doing would probably do something extreme - and suggests he watch the tape again. Debra is right. Alex is soon dead. We see the bank again, later in the same episode, when a nervous Alex phones Jordan Chase. He wants to leave town, but Chase tells him not to. He tells him to act normally, and to return home. But Chase knows that Dexter & Lumen are at Tilden's home and plan to kill him. Which is precisely what happens.

Q. What is it actually in real life?

A. A former bank, and office building.

Q. Where can I find it in real life?

A. This is the former Pacific Mercantile Bank - 211 E. Ocean Blvd, in Long Beach, CA.

It's in the 6-story high Downtown Plaza building.

That's on the north side of Ocean, between Long Beach Blvd and Pine Ave.

The latter, outdoor part of the scene (as Debra & Quinn walk away from the bank) was filmed on the Long Beach Promenade, a broad pedestrian walkway (the south end of Locust Ave) that runs (north-south) along the west side of the bank.

( During the walk, you can actually see a sign reading "211", near the lawn. )

In that walking shot, the camera is looking south, across Ocean Blvd, as they walk north on the Promenade.

The 12-story tall, striped office building seen next to it is at 180 E. Ocean Blvd. The arch-shaped window seen behind them is part of the Long Beach Convention Center. (Here's a Google StreetView matching that view.)




I shot the photo below in September 2010:
(The camera is looking north from Ocean Blvd.).





Here is an aerial photo of the bank. And here is a map link.

Q. How the heck did you figure out where it was?

A.  In previous seasons, I've usually had to hunt down the locations after viewing the episodes, using clues from the various scenes.  By the 5th season, though, I'd developed a small group of fans, spies & tipsters who kept an eye out for Dexter filming in their neighborhoods, and would let me know in advance when something was about to film there.

Between those reports, and my own personal reconnaissance around town, by the time the first episode aired, I already knew most (but not all) of the filming locations, and only needed to watch the episodes and match up the scenes with the correct locations.

This group of helpful fans includes Kerry, Rick, Joel, Geoff, Ellen, Julie, Susan, Jeff, and others. My thanks to all of them.

This particular location was provided by Rick. (Thanks, Rick!)