“Our mission is to roll cigars 100 years from now, the way we do today,” said Drew Newman, emphasizing that his family’s company rolls cigars in the traditional way, “the same way we did 100 years ago. We are committed to keeping the cigar tradition alive, not only in Tampa but in the U.S.” Newman is the 4th generation owner and General Counsel of J.C. Newman Cigar Company.
Family owned and operated, J.C. Newman began in 1895 with founder Julius Caeser Newman, who started the company rolling cigars, by hand, in a family barn in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1954 the company moved to Tampa, which at the time was considered the cigar rolling capitol of the world.
Built in 1910, the Regensburg factory, known colloquially as “El Reloj,” was one of the last and largest cigar factories to be built in Tampa. It became the new home of J.C. Newman Cigar Company and 70 years later, it’s still the center of their operations.
“El Reloj is now the last large cigar factory still operating in the country,” Newman said. “Which has created an even greater responsibility for my family and me to keep our factory here in Tampa going, keep rolling cigars so we don’t lose this important family tradition.”
One important way that J.C. Newman is keeping Tampa’s historic cigar tradition alive is through the restoration of their 114-year-old cigar factory. In 2020 it was restored and opened to the public as a museum. Visitors can explore the factory, watch cigars being hand-rolled, partake in guided tours, visit the factory store and more.
“Last year we welcomed 15,000 visitors to El Reloj to see our cigar museum, to take a factory tour, learn how to roll cigars, attend an event and more,” Newman said. A common theme that he noticed among visitors was their desire to experience even more of Ybor City’s traditional heritage.
“Every day visitors come here, have a great experience, and then say okay what’s next?” Newman said, “Where can I go for a cup of café con leche, where can I go light up a cigar, where can I go eat a Cuban sandwich?”
Inspired by the community’s support, J.C. Newman embarked last year on a new restoration project, the Sanchez y Haya building directly across the street from El Reloj. Built in 1910 to serve the cigar factory, the building was once home to a restaurant, bar, and small hotel. Today, the company seeks to return the old building to its former glory and provide a place for the community to come together and enjoy themselves the same way that Ybor City residents did 100 years ago.
The J.C. Newman Cigar Company has focused on community engagement since it first arrived in Tampa. It joined the Tampa Bay Chamber in 1955, shortly after moving the business here from Ohio.
“My grandfather and great-grandfather moved our family business to Tampa in 1954 and one of the first things they did when they moved here was to join the Tampa Bay Chamber. They did that because they wanted to be connected with the local business community. They realized the value in businesses working together, sharing information, and helping each other,” Newman said. “Just like we want to keep rolling cigars for another hundred years, I’m sure we’ll want to keep being members of the Tampa Bay Chamber for the next hundred years.”
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Photo Courtesy JC Newman Cigar Company: Drew Newman is the 4th generation owner and General Counsel of the company.
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Image Courtesy JC Newman Cigar Company: 1954 Ybor City
El Reloj is open to the public on weekdays from 9:00am to 5:30pm, though visitors are encouraged to arrive before 3:00pm when cigar rolling stops. Visiting J.C. Newman’s cigar museum, theater, and factory store is free! Guided behind the scenes tours are offered for $15 per person.