How Tampa, Florida Became the Cuban Cigar Capital Of The World and the Latin Connection

Rich in history, rich in culture, and rich in stories- Tampa is known for its large ports, warm climate, and unique culture but few know about Tampa’s 135-year connection to the island of Cuba and how this US city was once the cigar capital of the world. One only has to travel through Tampa’s Ybor City to see the rich Latin and Cuban culture infused in daily life- whether it’s the myriad of Cuban cigars, the Latin inspired restaurants, or the Cuban imported chickens and roosters that roam the streets- Isla De Cuba can be seen and felt everywhere you go. 

How did a port city in the mainland develop such an important link to Cuba? 

Tampa’s Connection to the Caribbean island dates back to as far as the 1800s when early settlers from Europe began descending on Tampa for new beginnings. By 1805, Cuban immigrants and laborers were introduced to Tampa and began calling the city home. It wasn’t until 1895 that Tampa began its transformation into the Cuban historic mecca it is now. It was that year that Vicente Martinez-Ybor- a Spanish industrialist and entrepreneur who fell in love with Cuban culture during his time on the island and the Cuban Revolution. After falling deep into Cuban politics, a warrant was issued for Ybor’s arrest and Ybor escaped to Key West with his family.

Ybor relocated with his cigar factory to Key West but later moved to Tampa, Florida, and began the start of a new era for the city. Two years later, Ybor City was annexed by Tampa, and Ybor’s cigar manufacturing empire began to take shape. Believing the potential influx of migrants to the new city, Ybor began constructing homes near his factory to set up for the new migration wave- this also led to many other companies moving to Tampa to take advantage of the new labor and workforce. 

Within a few years, Tampa grew exponentially from a few thousand residents to over 10 thousand residents within a short few years of its migration boom. With the new growth, Tampa eventually had over 200 Cuban cigar factories in the city and produced over 500 million cigars annually making Ybor City and Tampa, the largest Cuban cigar manufacturers outside of Cuba itself. 

The cigar boom sparked new life in Tampa as the city became known as ‘Cigar City’ with many descending on Tampa shores for a taste of Cuban cigars. As the boom continued and Tampa began to be known as ‘Cigar City,’ new laws on the 1962 embargo greatly reduced the trade between Cuba and the USA. The embargo led to a decline in the number of cigars being manufactured but despite the decline, the industry never died down. 

Experiencing the Cuban Connection in Tampa

Travel to Tampa today and you can still see factories that have been passed down from generation to generation being lined up on the streets- the cigars are still handmade and much of the equipment from the 1800s is still being used in these factories.  

Other notable Cuban fixtures in the community include the Jose Marti Park dedicated after the famed journalist and poet who called Tampa home. Many people may not know but Jose Marti Park is owned by Cuba and is the only piece of Cuban property located in the United States since the embargo.  Jose Marti made several speeches on the steps of the Ybor factories giving him the name of Apostle of Cuban Freedom (Apóstol de la Libertad de Cuba). Today, the Latin culture can be seen throughout Ybor city adding flavor and flair for the Tampa area. 

Besides the cigar factories that still line Ybor City today, many restaurants, museums, nightclubs, and colorful artwork can be seen on the streets of Ybor City’s Latin Quarter. The cultural influences are undeniable with restaurants in West Tampa and Ybor City immersed with Cuba’s art-rich history. Ybor city provides its share of restaurants, museums, and is home to the Ybor City Museum. At night, the community transforms into a vibrant center for arts, dance, and music. 

Cuban Cuisine in Tampa

One of the most popular restaurants in Ybor City is the Columbia Restaurant-  a true historic gem, Columbia Restaurant is Florida’s oldest and largest Spanish restaurant in the United States.  Founded in 1905 by Casimiro Hernandez Sr., who emigrated to the United States from Spain- Hernandez fell in love with Cuba after spending a few years on the Caribbean island and decided to open a Cuban restaurant in Tampa when he moved there. Located in the heart of Ybor City, the Columbia restaurant has 1,700 seats, in 15 dining rooms in 52,000 square feet over an entire city block. The Nation’s Restaurant News named Columbia Restaurant a “Top 50 All-American icon.” 

Today, the restaurant is managed by descendants of Hernandez who continue to uplift Cuban culture and represent the rich history between the two countries. 

Ybor City is home to various restaurants, art shops, stores, hotels, and a wide range of museums filled with memories from the past.  Tampa’s multicultural past may be one of the reasons why this is the United States’ best-kept secret, providing a great option for visitors and revealing what makes this community so great. 

Tampa is made up of a community built on the resilience of people who decided to take a chance on themselves and build something that many of us can still talk about to this day.