They say it’s a milestone when a restaurant makes it past its first year, but it’s something entirely different when you’ve been around for over 100 years. Established in 1905 by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez, Sr, the Columbia Spanish Restaurant in Tampa’s Ybor City is literally the oldest restaurant in Florida, and remarkably, it is still owned by the same family. A dining and entertainment landmark, over the years the Columbia has attracted some of history’s biggest names, like Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Marilyn Monroe and Liza Minelli. Here are a few photos highlighting the restaurant’s massive impact over the last 114 years.
Interior view of the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, 1963Published in 1968Publish date unknown.Published in 1938Published in 1968Published in 1949Columbia Restaurant entrance, published 1947Columbia Restaurant entertainment, published 1968Published in 1973Stone crab claws at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, published sometime in the 1950s.Members of the Southern Governors Conference dining at the Columbia Restaurant, published in 1956.Members of the Southern Governors Conference dining at the Columbia Restaurant, published in 1956.Columbia Restaurant entertainment, published in 1968.People in Spanish dress at the Columbia Restaurant, published in 1968Columbia Restaurant entertainment, published in 1968Columbia Restaurant entertainment, published in 1968Columbia Restaurant entertainment, published in 1973Columbia Restaurant entertainment, published in 1973.Columbia Restaurant entertainment, published in 1973Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, published in 1973Fountain in front of the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, published in 1973Members of the Southern Governors’ Conference dining at the Columbia Restaurant, published in 1956Entrance to the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa published in 1985Couple standing in front of entrance to the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, published sometime before 1969Close-up view of the Columbia Restaurant sign in Tampa, published sometime before 1969Door to the patio at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, published sometime before 1969Interior view of the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, published in 1977Columbia Spanish Restaurant in Tampa, published in 1985Couple dancing at the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, published in 1977Nighttime view of the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, published in 1977Close-up view of fountain in front of the Columbia Restaurant on E. 7th Ave. in Tampa, 1982Close-up view showing the Columbia Restaurant sign in Tampa, 1972Close-up view of fountain in front of the Columbia Restaurant on E. 7th Ave. in Tampa, 1982Woman dancing at the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, 1977Dancers performing at the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, 1977Singer performing at the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, 1977Dancers performing at the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, 1977Singer performing at the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, 1977Stuffed roasted young pig with other dishes of food in the Columbia Restaurant, 1958Ybor City street scene, 1976
