Five generations have kept this Tampa restaurant alive through wars, Prohibition, and a $1.3M debt

Five Generations Building America’s Largest Spanish Restaurant Empire

Casimiro Hernandez Sr. stepped off the boat in Tampa in 1902 with four sons and big dreams.

He soon helped open the Columbia Saloon, naming it after a patriotic American song he loved. When Prohibition hit in 1918, he quickly switched to food.

After his death in 1929, his son took over $78,000 in debt just as the Great Depression struck. On the worst day, only eight folks came in.

Yet the family hung on, adding Tampa’s first air-conditioned dining room in 1935.

Now, five generations later, the once tiny corner café has grown into the world’s largest Spanish restaurant, still run by the same family that started it all.

A Cuban Immigrant Chased His American Dream in Tampa

Casimiro Hernandez Sr. came to Tampa in 1902 with his four young sons looking for a better life.

This Spanish-Cuban immigrant left home with almost no money and broken English. He found work at the Florida Brewery on Fifth Avenue to feed his family.

The busy cigar factories and lively Latin Quarter of Ybor City drew him in.

He later showed his love for America by naming his restaurant “Columbia” after the song “Columbia, Gem of the Ocean.

The Humble Corner Cafe That Started It All

Casimiro helped open Columbia Saloon on December 17, 1903, starting a legacy at the corner of 22nd Street and Broadway (now 7th Avenue). The small 60-seat spot served Cuban coffee and sandwiches to tired cigar workers.

Local Spanish, Cuban, and Italian immigrants made it their hangout after long factory shifts. The cafe got a new name in 1905 – Columbia Restaurant – the same year Teddy Roosevelt was president.

Booze Ban Forced a Smart Business Pivot

Florida banned alcohol in 1918, making Hernandez quickly turn his saloon into a full restaurant. He grew the business by joining with the neighboring La Fonda restaurant owned by the Garcia brothers in 1919.

The clever owner kept serving alcohol through hollow pillars and an upstairs speakeasy. Visitors today can see a framed 1929 search warrant showing police never found their hidden liquor.

Columbia became known for tasty Cuban sandwiches and Spanish Bean Soup.

A Death and Mountain of Debt Hit the Family

Casimiro Sr. died in 1929, leaving behind a huge $78,000 debt (worth over $1.3 million today). His son Casimiro Jr. took over just months before the October 1929 stock market crash.

The four brothers shared ownership at first, but Casimiro Jr. eventually bought out Lorenzo, Gustavo, and Evelio. Things got worse as Ybor City’s hand-rolled cigar industry started to fade.

The growing money troubles pushed the restaurant to the edge in the early 1930s.

Eight Customers and Twelve Dollars Almost Closed Columbia Forever

The Great Depression hit Columbia hard. On its worst day, only eight people came in, spending just $12.42. Casimiro Jr. nervously picked at his eyebrows while watching empty Seventh Avenue from the window.

He walked to the hardware store to buy nails, saying he would “nail up the damned joint” after another bad day.

His loyal waiter Gregorio Martinez (El Rey) offered his life savings of $50 to keep the doors open. Casimiro refused but never showed doubt in public again.

Free Soup Flowed Even When Money Didn’t

The restaurant gave away free soup and bread to hungry schoolchildren whose teacher couldn’t afford lunch, despite their own money troubles.

Teacher Leva Dopp Grebenstein skipped meals because her students had nothing to eat. Casimiro Jr. made sure they got food for the rest of the school year.

The family kept giving even as they struggled to pay their own bills. Things looked up when Florida made alcohol legal again on May 8, 1933.

Cool Air Brought Hot Business During Hard Times

Casimiro Jr. took a big risk by building Tampa’s first air-conditioned dining room in 1935 while the Great Depression still gripped the nation.

The fancy Don Quixote Room had an elevated dance floor, crystal chandelier, and waiters in tuxedos. Many thought spending money on such extras during tough times was crazy.

The room offered music, dancing, paella, and pompano under a giant chandelier. This bold move paid off right away, making Columbia the hot spot in Tampa.

Music Brought the Third Generation to the Family Business

Casimiro Jr. ‘s daughter Adela Hernandez became a concert pianist and married violinist Cesar Gonzmart.

The talented couple performed in supper clubs while touring across the United States and Cuba in the early 1950s. They stepped in to run the restaurant in 1953 when Casimiro Jr. got sick.

The musical pair brought more live entertainment to Columbia, putting money into bands and shows. The restaurant became known for both good food and great music.

Near Bankruptcy Almost Ended the Family Legacy

Richard and Casey Gonzmart Sr. became co-presidents after their father Cesar Gonzmart died in 1992.

They soon found huge money problems including unpaid taxes, vendor bills, and mortgages in trouble. The restaurant nearly closed for good in the mid-1990s.

Richard Gonzmart took charge, meeting with every vendor to work out payment plans. His hard work saved the business from closing and put the family restaurant back on solid ground.

From Corner Cafe to Restaurant Empire

The family grew beyond their first location, opening in Sarasota (1959), St. Augustine, Clearwater, and Orlando.

They added spots at the Tampa Bay History Center and Tampa International Airport. Their business grew into the 1905 Family of Restaurants including Ulele, Casa Santo Stefano, and other places.

The original Ybor City location now takes up an entire city block with 1,700 seats across 15 dining rooms. It’s the world’s largest Spanish restaurant and Florida’s oldest restaurant still open.

Five Generations Keep the Family Dream Alive

Casey Gonzmart Sr. retired as chairman in July 2025 after working in the family business for 60 years.

The fifth-generation now runs things, with Casey Jr. and Richard’s daughter Andrea Gonzmart Williams taking the lead.

Columbia stands as one of fewer than ten restaurants in America still owned by the same family that started it. They’ve weathered Prohibition, the Great Depression, hurricanes, pandemics, and world wars.

The 122-year legacy continues with the sixth generation already learning the business from their parents.

Visiting Columbia Restaurant Tampa

Columbia Restaurant at 2117 E. 7th Ave. in Ybor City spans an entire city block with 15 dining rooms across 52,000 square feet. You can make reservations through OpenTable or call 813.248.4961.

They’re open 11am-9pm Sunday-Thursday and 11am-10pm Friday-Saturday.

Watch nightly flamenco performances Monday through Saturday and walk through the historic Patio dining room with its Pompeii replica fountain for free to see where Casimiro Hernandez Sr.’s five-generation legacy continues.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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