More of America's Long-Running Restaurants

Columbia Restaurant

Web site
Founded in 1905
Ybor City, Fla.

A number of readers wrote in about Florida's oldest restaurant, Columbia, which was founded by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez. The restaurant, known for its Cuban coffee and Cuban sandwiches, now operates seven locations and is still family-owned. The Ybor City location was the first air-conditioned restaurant dining room. One noteworthy nugget from Tom Sanders: "Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders ate there prior to going to Cuba."

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