Columbia Restaurant: American success story
In 1905, an immigrant family opened a small saloon in Ybor City, Florida, a district adjacent to Tampa where Cuban, Italian, and other ethnic newcomers to America strove to earn a good life for their families in the Land of Opportunity. From it's humble beginnings, the little saloon blossomed into the internationally-famous Columbia Restaurant, nurtured along the way by four generations of the Gonzmart family.
Throughout the past 100 years, the Columbia has been visited by every major celebrity, sports figure, gangster, politician, and royal family member that you can think of. It became THE place to visit when in the Tampa Bay area, and its wonderful Cuban and Spanish cuisine was and still is worthy of repeat visits.
My sweety Irene and I used to dine there whenever we ventured west across the Florida peninsula; Irene loved its tiled floors, ornate woodwork and bar, wrought iron accents, and its menu filled with delicious selections, as well as the exquisite wait staff. To visit the Columbia was to leisurely dine for hours -- it wasn't a meal, it was an evening experience. After the meal there was always time to enjoy a fine Cuban cigar.
The reason I'm writing about the Columbia is because of a sangria pitcher sitting atop one of my bookshelves, a beautiful, colorfully hand-painted ceramic thing that we purchased at the restaurant so many years ago. It caused me to reflect upon my life with dear Irene, as well as my own family's immigrant beginnings in this wonderful nation that we all too often take for granted. Now in its fifth generation, the Gonzmart descendants renovated the restaurant and included a museum that chronicles the Columbia's history through artwork, furnishings, and an incredible collection of photographs.
Old-time patrons like me will grumble about the Columbia "not being what it used to be," but I return with each visit to Tampa and I happily remember wonderful times shared with my dear, departed Irene. The Columbia is an enduring example of what can be accomplished in America by penniless yet hard-working people who dream big dreams, then strive to make them happen. It is a symbol of this great nation every bit as much and as important as the Statue of Liberty or Mount Rushmore. Immigrant families like mine or the Gonzmarts never asked that things be given to them -- all they asked for was a chance, an opportunity to work hard so that perhaps their dreams would come true. They wanted, through hard work, to ensure a better life for their children.
So when in Tampa, take the charming little street tram to Ybor City and get off at the Columbia Restaurant stop on Seventh Avenue. Order the 1905 Salad, the Spanish pork, and indulge in a pitcher of sangria. During your excellent meal, look around and consider just how fortunate we all are to be living in the greatest country civilization ever spawned.
Oh, by the way...relax, take your time, and enjoy the experience.