J.C. Newman Cigar Co. plans to open an inn, restaurant and cigar lounge in the restored Sanchez y Haya building, a project the company says could create 75 jobs and help attract additional investment to a section of East Tampa that has seen limited commercial development in recent decades.
The Tampa cigar manufacturer is redeveloping the historic property across the street from its El Reloj factory. Plans call for the building to house the Inn at El Reloj, a restaurant and a cigar lounge.
The project is estimated to cost nearly $19 million, according to materials presented to city officials. J.C. Newman also received a $5 million grant from the East Tampa CRA to support historic preservation work and infrastructure improvements surrounding the property.
Project documents estimate the development will create 60 full-time positions and 15 part-time jobs. J.C. Newman says it plans to recruit heavily from surrounding East Tampa neighborhoods and provide employee benefits.
Read the latest Tampa business news and updates
The company estimates more than 20,000 people tour the El Reloj factory each year and says many visitors leave the area after their tours because there are limited nearby options for dining, lodging and entertainment. J.C. Newman says the project is intended to address what it views as a shortage of visitor-oriented businesses near the northern edge of Ybor City.
The restoration also includes sidewalks, stormwater improvements, utility upgrades, landscaping and street lighting around the property. The company says those improvements are intended to support future investment in the area in addition to the project itself.
J.C. Newman estimates the restored property could generate roughly $250,000 annually in property taxes.
Built in 1910, the Sanchez y Haya building is a contributing structure within the Ybor City National Historic Landmark District. Historical records show the property once housed retail businesses, restaurants and lodging that served workers and visitors connected to Tampa’s cigar industry.
J.C. Newman acquired the building about five years ago after multiple redevelopment efforts failed to move forward. Since then, the company has undertaken a multi-phase restoration that included stabilizing the structure, restoring historic architectural features and preparing the building for new commercial uses. The final phase of interior restoration is currently underway.
The company says the project is intended to return the building to its historic role as a place where visitors could stay, dine and gather, much as they did when the property first opened more than a century ago.
Read More Tampa Bay Business News
Explore the latest Tampa Bay business news, real estate deals, development projects, executive moves and company updates shaping the region.