TAMPA — The J.C. Newman Cigar Company, founded in 1895, remains a premier tourist destination in Tampa.

What You Need To Know

  • Tampa's oldest cigar factory is leading the historic preservation efforts for the Sanchez y Haya building in Ybor City.

  • Since the $18 million project launched in 2023, work continues to revitalize the cigar factory.

  • Drew Newman is part of the fourth generation in his family’s cigar business. He says that while the project is nearly a year behind schedule, the final outcome will make it worthwhile.

  • The Newmans have received $600,000 from the Hillsborough County Historic Preservation Challenge Grant

Tampa's oldest cigar factory is also leading the historic preservation efforts for the Sanchez y Haya building in Ybor City. Since the $18 million project launched in 2023, work continues to revitalize the cigar factory.

“Our goal is to make sure it feels and looks just like it did 100 years ago,” said Drew Newman, part of the fourth generation in his family’s cigar business.

Sanchez y Haya was once a thriving dive bar, grocery store and boarding house. Newman says that while the project is nearly a year behind schedule, the final outcome will make it worthwhile.

“A year and half from now there will be nothing but glass on the front, bringing natural light in and providing our neighbors, our visitors, our cigar workers to come in and have a cup of cafe con leche or eat a Cuban sandwich and celebrate Tampa’s rich cigar history,” said Newman.

It is a legacy that began in Ybor City. According to Drew’s father, Eric Newman, it is uncommon for a family business to pass down through multiple generations. Yet, it has occurred four times within the Newman Company.

“We’re so thrilled and so blessed that we look forward to Drew’s help and my grandson William Standford Newman and Eliza Louise Newman,” said Eric Newman.

“They’re (ages) 4 and 2,” added Drew.

“It’s OK, but they’re fifth generation. Maybe they’ll be for another 30 years and they’ll be something wonderful,” added Eric.

“That’s our goal. We roll cigars today just like my great grandfather, your grandfather did 100 years ago,” said Drew.

Rolling cigars is an art that has been passed down through generations and it has been a critical part of Tampa’s economy.

“The cigar industry built the City of Tampa 100 years ago. Before Mr. Ybor came here in 1885, there were just 700 people living in what we know now as Tampa. Mr. Ybor came here and built his first Cigar factory, and everyone else followed. Tampa’s population exploded from 700 people in 1885  to 30,000 people 15 years later," said Drew.

From different cigar brands to cigar bands, to even their original clock, the Newmans have done everything to preserve Tampa’s legacy in the cigar industry.

“Cause cigars are to Tampa, what wine is to Napa Valley, and what cars are to Detroit,” said Drew Newman.

Newman says that investing in the Sanchez y Haya building ensures the tradition that built this community won’t be forgotten.

So far, the Newmans have received $600,000 from the Hillsborough County Historic Preservation Challenge Grant. They also secured $2.3 million in preliminary funding from the National Park Service. On February 4, the company made a special project grant request for $5 million from the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency.