FLORIDA FEATURE ARTICLES : TAMPA

Ybor - Rising from the Ashes of the Cigar Factories
Ybor in Tampa, Florida

It began in 1885 when Don Vicente Martinez Ybor (pronounced EE-bore) – a Cuban cigar factory owner – fled the political and labor unrest of Cuba to establish his cigar empire in Tampa. Ybor’s factories prospered and attracted Cuban, Spanish, Italian, German and Jewish immigrants to work in the factories or open their own businesses. People referred to it as “Mr. Ybor’s City,” which over the years evolved into the name Ybor City. At the industry’s peak, the district’s 200 cigar factories employed 12,000 cigar workers and produced an estimated 700 million cigars annually. But as industry issues such as mechanization and the popularity of cigarettes, and national factors such as the Great Depression and prohibition took their toll on the city, the cigar district declined.

Since Ybor City was declared a NationalHistoric Landmark District in 1991, the once forgotten “cigar city” has evolved into a lively Latin Quarter attracting visitors with its unique history, distinctive architecture and festive atmosphere. The wrought-iron balconies, brick streets, globe street lamps, boutiques, coffeehouses and nightclubs are evidence that cultural heritage is as important now as it was at the turn of the century. The now trendy district even has its own namesake beer “Ybor Gold.”




Attractions include the Gonzalez y Martinez Cigar Factory, where cigars are still hand-rolled and professional rollers demonstrate their trade daily, the Ybor City Museum State Park, where exhibits tell the story of the immigrant life and Ybor’s cigar making history, and and Centro Ybor, an entertainment complex anchored by the historic Centro Espanol social club, the $45 million, two-level development including a 20-screen Muvico movie theater, Improv Comedy Club, Game Works interactive arcade, the Ybor City Museum, Visitor Center and numerous shops and restaurants.

The best way to see these historic sites and experience the true essence of Ybor is through a guided walking tour such as the one by Rosann Garcia, the daughter of a Ybor City cigar roller.

Ybor City has also earned the name, “Nightlife Capital of Florida’s West Coast,” and that is no exaggeration. From 30,000 to 40,000 people converge in the lively Latin Quarter on a typical
weekend night and two million visitors come every year, including those who come to enjoy Ybor City’s many ethnic festivals and events.





Photo: Visit Florida









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