Ybor City – For over a century, Ybor City’s Colombian restaurant has been a landmark of the blend of Spanish Cuban heritage, history, culinary and artistry. One of the restaurant’s most famous features, the tiled murals along 21st Avenue – are carefully restored and exchanged to endure the artistic heritage of Spanish history.
First made in Seville, Spain, Colombian hand-painted ceramic tiles have adorn the façades since 1978, depicting Spanish explorers, intricate Moorish patterns and Mediterranean floral motifs. Over time, exposure to Florida’s heavy sun, heavy rains and traffic vibrations prompted tiles to be repaired and replaced.
Longtime Columbia artist Harris Romanor has spent decades maintaining the restaurant’s signature aesthetic, but he is leading the project. He works with his daughter, Miami artist Elizabeth Romaner, to draw new tiles that burn glazed for durability and burn ki. They have a lifespan of 25 years.
The repairs take place in three phases. The demolition of the first section began on February 25th, with the first two sections of the tile replacement completed in early March. The final mid-section is a little more elaborate and will be completed in the coming weeks.
Founded in 1905 by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez Sr., Columbia has grown from a small cafe to Florida’s oldest restaurant, and is still owned and operated by the Hernandez Gonz Mart family.
Featuring vibrant tile pieces, stained glass and wrought iron details, the Moor and Spanish revival architecture is a crucial icon of Ybor City’s immigrant history.
The project amounts to thousands of tiles being restored or replaced, and includes works by several artists over the 1960s and decades.
“Over the years, you can see different styles, techniques and brush strokes from different artists on different panels of tiles,” Harris Romaner said.
The new tile was created using Bisque to replace the sections of the original ceramic tile. Using previous works, Romaner has developed a very colorful, organic scale and style, if not precise breeding.
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Original issue: March 12, 2025 2pm EDT
