TAMPA, Fla. — The Columbia Restaurant, Florida’s oldest restaurant, celebrated new inductees to their hall of fame this week.

What You Need To Know

  •  The Columbia Restaurant had its employee appreciation dinner recently

  •  For the first time, they handed out the George Guito Loyalty Award

  •  Award was created in recognition and as a tribute to longtime employee George Guito who recently passed away in April 2024

The Gonzmart family treated their employees to a special dinner, while honoring former workers who have recently passed away.

One such employee was former General Manager George Guito who worked at the Columbia Restaurant for nearly 62 years; and according to the family, he worked up until about a month before his passing from a series of illnesses.

This year the Columbia Restaurant created a new recognition on behalf of Guito called the George Guito Loyalty Award. For the first time, they handed out the award.

As the night started out with traditional Spanish Flamenco which you can see on any given night at the Columbia Restaurant, located at 2117 E. 7th Ave., Tampa, servers passed out iconic dishes that have been featured since 1905.

On this special night, a steak and lobster dinner made the menu along with a thank you from the top boss to the top employees.

Richard Gonzmart told Spectrum Bay News 9 it is a great feeling to honor his workers who he considers as family.

“This is a family business, and this is an extended family,” said Richard Gonzmart. “We have about 1,500 extended family.”

The dinner paid tribute to Columbia family who were there in spirit.

“And the legend. The one, the only, George Guito who started in 1962 and passed away in April of 2024,” said Gonzmart as his daughter lit a candle in a tribute to Guito. “So, when they light that candle, we know that his spirit’s with us and that’s what’s most important; that they’ll never be forgotten.”

On this night, they kept a seat open for Columbia Hall of Famer George Guito.

His family was also there in attendance.

Then they inducted more Hall of Famers to their ranks.

“You know, it’s just a feel good,” said Gonzmart. “I feel my mom and dad, my grandparents and how proud they were, would be to see how we continue with a family tradition of caring for those who are our extended family.”

The Columbia Family got the opportunity to show their appreciation to the workers who make it special, and they are feeling good about that.

They handed out three George Guito Awards.

Among them, one went to a cook who has been inside the legendary Columbia Restaurant kitchen for almost 40 years.