Episode 113: The Columbia, Florida's oldest restaurant

The annual state python hunt which is open to the public wrapped up recently; Craig took a look at the efficacy of these contests for his latest "Florida Phoenix" column.This week's guest is Richard Gonzmart, fourth generation owner of the Columbia Restaurant with its original location in Ybor City. Richard explains how the two sides of his family - one from Cuba, one from Spain - came to America and opened the restaurant which has survived Prohibition, the Great Depression, World Wars and, most recently, COVID.From the original, the Columbia Restaurant has branched out to open locations across the state including St. Armond's Circle in Sarasota. The Columbia Restaurant is the oldest eatery on St. Armand's and is part of a perfect day spent exploring this unique shopping, dining, history attraction.Welcome once again to our newest partner windstormproducts.com, the world's largest online retailer of hurricane hardware. Windstormproducts.com sells the screws, bolts, wingnuts and supplies which will secure your home or business from hurricane wind damage, and like the Columbia Restaurant, is a family owned Florida business.