Ybor City: Tampa’s historic heart

by Graham McKenzie

What is not to like about the Tampa Bay area?

For the holiday maker it has more or less everything you could possibly want.  It represents the ideal combination of city, sea, river, sport, wildlife and food – something for everybody. Outdoor living (unless the temperature drops below ten degrees centigrade (50F) at which point the locals tend to panic and break out the gloves and sheepskin coats) for locals and visitors alike.

With direct flights from the UK and many other major cities around the world, lots of products on offer from tour operators and receptives plus the opportunity to upsell add-ons such as theme park tickets, car hire and local tours, it is also an easy destination to sell.

The location of Tampa with easy access to the Gulf and sandy beaches, the River Hillsborough that runs right through the centre of town, Busch Gardens (the new Iron Gwazi ride opens March this year) and the presence of the Lightning (Ice Hockey) and the Buccaneers (American Football) makes this the American dream.

It is also encouraging that resident sentiment research by the tourist board shows that the locals are keen to see us.

For me though the real jewel in the Tampa crown is the historic district of Ybor City which is located just outside the downtown area and easily accessible by tram, feet or uber.

The neighbourhood was established by a Spaniard called Vicente Martinez-Ybor who for one reason or another had to quickly leave his successful cigar making business in Cuba. After a long deliberation, a few locational mistakes and some hard bargaining he acquired some marsh land in Tampa from the local authorities in 1885 and established what is now known as Ybor City.

Immediately the area became a hot spot of immigration from Cuba and Italy (mainly from Sicily) and the expansion of industry was almost instant. Given his background in cigar manufacturing, it came as no surprise that Ybor City became the global centre of that trade with over 200 factories employing around 12,000 people. Unfortunately, nowadays only one factory remains, J C Newman, but they still handroll cigars in the traditional manner and supply to what is a surprisingly buoyant and expanding market.

Alongside the industrial expansion came other support services, retail shops, restaurants and bars all growing at a rapid pace and today 7th street in Ybor is the result. A heady mix of different food, drink, art and culture. The history is fascinating including the conspiracy theories that blame some in Tampa for the death of President Kennedy (he was in Tampa five days before his assassination in Dallas 1963).

The Cuban and Italian influences are still there for everybody to see in street names, architecture and language. The Columbia Restaurant, Florida’s oldest at 115 years old, stands proudly as a reminder of those long-gone days with its exquisite Cuban cuisine and nightly Flamenco shows.

I highly recommend the Tampa Bay area and especially Ybor City.

Graham’s vsit was arranged by Visit Tampa Bay and Visit Florida as part of the Florida Huddle 2022 event