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Richard and Casey Gonzmart Named Recipients of the Vicente Martinez Ybor Legacy Award
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| 06/01/2009 |
Richard and Casey Gonzmart
Named Recipients of the Vicente Martinez Ybor Legacy Award
Ybor City Museum Society Honors National Historic Landmark District''s Visionaries
YBOR CITY, Fla., June 8, 2009 -- The Ybor City Museum Society hosted the 25th Anniversary Legacy Awards Brunch on Sunday, June 7, 2009. The event celebrated the achievements of those who have made a lasting impact on Ybor City, one of only two active National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida. Richard and Casey Gonzmart were honored with the Vicente Martinez Ybor Legacy Award.
The Gonzmart brothers are the great-grandsons of Casimiro Hernandez, Sr. who in 1905 founded the internationally recognized Columbia restaurant in Ybor City. As fourth generation family members, they serve as President and Chairman, respectively, of the Columbia Restaurant. Both brothers studied hotel and restaurant administration in Madrid, Spain as well as other well-known culinary centers, and have brought their extensive knowledge and background in the restaurant business to Ybor City in order to help build it as a vibrant community. The Gonzmarts have effectively helped drive local and state tourism, are active in community and economic develop organizations, and have supported many philanthropies throughout the area.
The Ybor City Museum Society serves to preserve, promote and celebrate the unique cultural heritage of Ybor City and support the Ybor City Museum State Park.
The original Columbia Restaurant was founded in 1905 in Ybor City and is Florida’s oldest restaurant. Locations include the flagship restaurant in Tampa’s historic Ybor City, St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, the historic district in St. Augustine, The Pier in St. Petersburg, Sand Key in Clearwater Beach, Central Florida’s town of Celebration, and the Columbia Café at the Tampa Bay History Center. All Columbia Restaurants are owned and operated by the Gonzmart family, fourth and fifth generation members of the founding family.
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