In episode 147, Garrett sits down with Max Herman to explore how Tampa became a cigar-fueled boomtown that drew immigrants from Cuba, Spain, Sicily, Germany, and Romania. From Henry Plant’s grand hotel to Vicente Ybor’s vision, they trace how prosperity, culture, and politics converged in Ybor City, where Jose Martí rallied support for Cuban independence and Paulina Pedroso became a symbol of solidarity. The discussion covers the rise of cigar workers as America’s first immigrant middle class, food traditions like the Cuban sandwich and deviled crab, the artistry of cigar labels, and how highways and urban renewal reshaped neighborhoods. This conversation reveals the stories that still define Tampa’s identity today.0:00:00 - Tampa Bay Hotel0:09:16 - The Big Guava0:12:49 - Seal of City of Tampa0:15:16 - Plant vs. Flagler0:17:55 - Vicente Martinez Ybor0:23:37 - Ybor History0:30:57 - Cigars0:37:55 - Historical Ybor Lifestyle0:45:36 - Cigars Continued0:47:27 - Historical Figures1:01:27 - JC Newman Development1:05:00 - Germans in Ybor1:08:10 - Romanian Jews in Ybor 1:10:27 - Chinese in Ybor 1:13:17 - Who started the Cuban sandwich? 1:14:57 - New Tampa Residents1:23:27 - Ybor History Tours

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