On March 2, a cohort of BDCNA members and their guests convened in Ybor City for an exclusive tour of the J C Newman Cigar Factory, renowned as “America’s Oldest family-owned Premium Cigar Maker,” followed by a visit to the historic Columbia Restaurant, recognized as “Florida’s Oldest Restaurant.”
Guiding our group through the labyrinthine corridors of the factory was our Tour Host, Holden Rasmussen. We delved into the depths of this three-story establishment, discovering coveted special edition cigars, authentic Cuban tobacco, and ancient AMF rolling machines dating back decades. Each floor of the factory unveiled a different facet of its rich history, from storage vaults and humidified aging rooms to skilled hand rollers and a dedicated floor housing vintage automated rolling machines, nearly a century old.