Centro Ybor is nestled within Ybor City—Tampa’s only National Historic Landmark District. Founded by immigrants and built on culture, craftsmanship, and community, the area’s legacy continues today in a new generation of experiences.
Walkable, vibrant, and endlessly photogenic, this is where history buffs, foodies, creatives, and curious explorers come together.
Long before Centro Ybor became a destination for entertainment and culture, it was the epicenter of something much bigger—a thriving immigrant community that helped build Tampa from the ground up.
In the late 1800s, Ybor City was founded by Vicente Martinez-Ybor, a Cuban cigar manufacturer who moved his operations to Tampa. The area quickly grew into a bustling hub of industry, primarily known for its cigar factories, many of which were powered by a diverse workforce of Cuban, Spanish, Italian, and Afro-Cuban immigrants. At its peak, Ybor City was dubbed the “Cigar Capital of the World.”
Fast-forward to the 20th century, and like many industrial neighborhoods, Ybor experienced decline. But in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the neighborhood began a powerful revitalization—and Centro Ybor was born.
Centro Ybor officially opened in 2000, reimagining a portion of historic 7th Avenue with a mix of retail, dining, and entertainment while preserving the architecture, aesthetic, and cultural soul of the original cigar district. The centerpiece? The beautifully restored Centro Español building, which once served as a social club for Ybor’s Spanish community in the early 1900s.
Today, Centro Ybor stands as a proud symbol of rebirth—a modern gathering place that honors its past while shaping the future of Ybor City.
Centro Ybor is a member of the Ybor Chamber of Commerce
