Ybor City Chamber to Host 48^th Annual Gala

 J.C. Newman "Cigar Family" to Receive Adela & Cesar Gonzmart Award

(Tampa, Florida) The Ybor City Chamber's 48^th Annual Gala will take place Saturday, September 21^th, 6:30 PM in the Siboney Room of the world famous Columbia Restaurant.  This year's theme is "cruising the tropics."  Tables will represent different Caribbean Islands with national flags and tropical floral arrangements.  The black-tie optional occasion will feature the presentation of the 20^th Adela and Cesar Gonzmart Award, Ybor's highest honor, to the J.C. Newman "Cigar Family."  In keeping with the theme, a four-day Caribbean Cruise will be raffled-off courtesy of Platinum Sponsor, AAA Travel.

The Newman's are third generation owners of Ybor's City last remaining cigar factory. The Newman Family has been in business in Ybor City since purchasing the Regensburg Cigar Factory in the 1950s.  Today, brothers Eric and Bobby run the family business from their 2701 North 16^th Street location.  The Newman's have restored the famous "El Reloj" clock tower, which graces their historic building.  J.C. Newman is the last cigar factory operating in Ybor City.

"If you have not been to one of our Gala's, you do not really know Tampa," says Tom Keating, President & CEO of the Ybor City Chamber.  "This is a unique experience, where people who have done business together for generations celebrate their new-world success with old-world elegance and grace."

The Gonzmart award is named after Adela and Cesar Gonzmart, the third generation of Ybor's Gonzmart family who helped build the Columbia into Florida's oldest and the world's largest Spanish restaurant.  Gold Sponsors include GTE Financial, Oliva Tobacco Company, The Fuente Companies, and USAmeriBank. 

The Chamber's Gala is open to the public.If you wish to attend, please contact our Events Coordinator Anna Ramos at aramos@ybor.org or 248.3712 x22 by Wednesday, September 18^th (space is limited).

Former Mayor Dick Greco and his wife Linda dance up a storm at the 2012 Ybor Chamber Gala.