Tag: cigar history

This factory was purchased by Samuel L. Davis & Co in 1904. On October 2, 1910, the factory suffered major damage due to arson. In 1911, the factory was purchased by Balbin Brothers. In 1915, Balbin Bros Co. was acquired by Tampa Cuba Cigar Co and became a subsidiary.

In February 1908, Andres Diaz & Co moved into this building from New York. Regular cigar production began in May of 1908. At its peak, the factory employed 200 workers. A. Diaz closed it’s business in 1925.

The A. Santaella factory was built in 1904 after two other structures at this location were destroyed by fire. At the time it was one of the largest and well equipped factories in Ybor.

This three story cigar factory was built in 1897 and came into the Vicente Guerra Cigar Company’s possession in 1904. They did business here until 1943 as V. Guerra, Diaz & Company. Cigar Brands: La Mega, La Notica, La Copiosa

Perfecto Garcia Brothers came into existence in 1905, founded by four members of the Garcia family. They grew Cuban tobacco on their family owned farms and rolled their cigars in Ybor City. They also owned over fifteen cigar shops in Chicago. The Chicago area was their main demographic and most of their marketing and sales […]

The Regensburg cigar factory was built in February, 1910 for Edward Regensburg. The factory had seats for 1,000 cigar rollers. Its most famous feature is the four sided clock that has been nicknamed “El Reloj”

The three story structure was used from 1910 until 1940 by Jose Escalante and Company where they machine made CORINA cigars. This building was erected in 1893 by the Vicente Guerra Cigar Company and the Tampa-Palmetto Beach Railroad Line.

Entire books can be written about Vicente Martinez (V. M.) Ybor’s life. I will try to touch upon the important events in his life that led to his founding of Ybor City, the Cigar Capitol of the World.