TAMPA, Fla. — Success in politics has a lot to do with strategy. And for the late Florida Gov. Bob Graham, his strategy included a stop in Ybor City. 

What You Need To Know

  • Many share memories of the late Gov. Bob Graham

  • He enjoyed working the jobs of the every person

  • Some recall him as being a people person

In 1977, Graham rolled up his sleeves and got to work at La Tropicana Cuban Cafe on 7th Avenue, across from the Acropolis Restaurant.

“He was working all back here, cutting Cubans, making Cubans,” said former campaign press secretary Victor DiMaio.

The then-State Sen. Graham visited the famous Cuban sandwich spot for something he called a workday.

Those workdays would help to define Graham. He did hundreds of them.

“He loved working,” DiMaio said. “He was very gregarious. He was very charming. He was very lovable. I mean, he just loved people. He was a people person.”

At that moment in Ybor City, DiMaio said he never realized this would be such a historic moment. Criss-crossing the state and working the jobs of everyday Floridians made Graham very popular.

“It was something he used very wisely and very effectively,” said former Florida Gov. Bob Martinez said. “It clearly showed he had the ability to talk to people of all walks of life.”

Bob Graham, pictured during his "work day" at La Tropicana Cuban Cafe on 7th Avenue in Aug. 1977. (Tampa Bay Times)

Martinez succeeded Graham as governor, but the two met as lawmakers long before that.

Through bipartisan efforts, Graham (Democrat) and Martinez (Republican) worked together on environmental issues, growth management and more.

Martinez said Graham also made sure funding was directed toward some important Bay area projects.

“The widening of Dale Mabry south at Gandy, the ramps over on Himes and 275, the completion of 75 from Pasco County to Manatee County. All of those were things that we had advocated and he got them done,” Martinez said.

Martinez said not only was the late governor a good public official, he was a nice person.

“Real easy to work with whether. He agreed with you or disagreed with you,” Martinez said. “It was always an agreeable conversation.”

La Tropicana Cuban Cafe is now closed, but will reopen in May as a new restaurant — Barrios Tacos.

However, the building will forever hold the memories of Bob Graham’s visit. It’s part of his lasting legacy in Tampa Bay.