J. C. Newman Cigar Company

The J. C. Newman Cigar Company was founded in 1915 by Julius Ceasar Newman as a one-man operation in Ohio. The company grew and flourished and in the mid-50s, J.C. decided to relocate to Tampa to pursue his dream of producing a premium cigar line. A relative latecomer to Tampa's cigar industry, J.C. Newman took over another cigar factory, the Regensburg factory, one of the last and largest cigar factories built in Tampa. Known for its famous clock tower with hourly chimes, the factory was nicknamed El Reloj, Spanish for "The Clock." In honor of the family's 125th anniversary and the factory's 110th anniversary, the factory was fully restored and re-opened to the public in 2021. Today the factory remains as Ybor City's last operating cigar factory and features a free 3-floor museum and cigar shop. Factory tours are offered Monday, Thursday, and Friday mornings for a $15 fee.