I am second generation American, born and raised in Tampa, Florida in a neighborhood called Palmetto Beach, where my mother was born and raised. My maternal and paternal grandparents immigrated to the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when Spanish immigrants began to arrive steadily. There were two regions of Spain from where most of the immigrants came, Galicia and Asturias. Most Spaniards immigrated directly from Spain but many also re-immigrated from Cuba. At the same time, Tampa was also receiving many immigrants from Sicily and a few from Italy. These groups settled in two areas of Tampa: West Tampa (where my father was born and raised) and Ybor City (the neighborhood to which Palmetto Beach was connected).
These groups did not stand idle after arrival. Most came for jobs in the booming cigar industry at that time. Each group formed mutual aid societies to provide health care through the formation of hospitals and clinics and clubs that would provide socialization opportunities and entertainment that would otherwise not have been available to them. The organizations played a vital role in the development of Tampa’s Latino communities. They were instrumental in welcoming and orienting new immigrants. One paid dues to become a member of either of these clubs and in exchange, members received recreational, social and cultural opportunities as well as health care and educational programs. The Centro Español hospital was one of the top medical facilities in its heyday. My grandfather was a charter member. He also took part in the cornerstone ceremonies (pictured) of the newer Centro Español building in Ybor City.
My generation was fortunate that our grandparents were such fore-thinkers and so motivated to make a quality of life for themselves in their new country. It was through these organizations that I learned to not only enjoy the cultural richness of these groups but also a pride in my heritage and a keen sense of knowing where, why and how I belonged.
The clubs that the Spanish, Italian and Cuban immigrants established were The Centro Español, The Centro Asturiano, L’Unione Italiana (The Italian Club) and The Circulo Cubano (The Cuban Club). One of my favorite activities with these clubs were their annual Spring and Fall “picnics”. I put picnics in quotes because, with the exception of the Italian Club, all the other’s were held indoors at their respective buildings.
If there was ever a signature dish affiliated with the city of Tampa, it would have to be arroz con pollo (saffron rice and chicken). This was served at every picnic except for the Italian Club that served baked chicken and spaghetti. There’s not an Hispanic restaurant in town that doesn’t have arroz con pollo on their menu. I was a very fortunate child because I had grandparents from both regions of Spain, an aunt who was married to a Sicilian-American and a great uncle who was married to a Cuban-American, so I got to go to all of these food fests. Each venue started with socializing and some with antipastos followed by the meal, followed by live entertainment and then ending with a dance and live orchestra. The dance portion of the picnic was held in the basement cafes (my grandparents’ generation) and the ballroom (my parents’ generation). I enjoyed floating to both venues.
A Little More About The Ethnic Clubs
The Centro Español 
The Centro Español is Tampa’s oldest ethnic social club. It was founded in 1891. Their mission was “to honor, preserve, and celebrate the cultural heritage and history of the community of immigrants from Spain who settled in Tampa.” Their vision is “To sustain the historic link between our community and Spain; to educate the younger generations of the significance of this link; and to gather frequently to enjoy each other’s company and the cultures of Spain and the United States, which together have shaped the lives of six generations of Spanish Americans.”
Like all of the clubs that followed, the Centro Español was built to house offices, a cafe, a ballroom and a live theater. The Centro Español, I believe, was the only club that also had a movie theater affiliated with it. I went to the movies many times with my grandparents where they would show a double feature (movies from Spain, Cuba, Mexico and Argentina) and have live entertainment in between the two movies. The outings with my grandparents helped to solidify my love of the culture into which I was born. (Below, L to R: The cantina when men gathered often; the stage of the live theater, the evening dance at the annual picnic and the gathering of attendees for live entertainment after eating)
The Centro Asturiano 
The Centro Asturiano was a social club for immigrants and descendants of immigrants from Asturias, Spain. Like The Centro Español, membership came with health, hospitalization and cemetery benefits. In its younger days, the club had a large gym, a cafe (cantina) where many men would gather to play dominoes, chess and/or cards. They also had a bowling alley which was not around when I came into this world, and yes, a Spring and Summer picnic. It was always something to look forward to. Those picnics were all day affairs, starting at around 11:00 am and lasting into early evening. They would have probably gone on later except for the fact that they were always on a Sunday and people had to work the next day. But you would get up on Monday with the tunes of Woody Garcia’s orchestra ringing in your head and a hankering for another helping of arroz con pollo. (Below L to R: Ballrooom, Cantina, Foyer, Theater)
The Italian Club
The Italian club (L’Unione Italiana) was established over a century ago. It was founded by a small group of immigrants who wanted to unite the Italian community together and overcome the social and economic challenges Italian and Hispanic immigrants endured at the time. Like the Spaniards, the Sicilians and Italians immigrated into Tampa in the late 1880s. The club was formed in 1894. They too provided educational, cultural, financial aid and medical services to their members. The Italian Club was the second mutual aid society to be established in Tampa. I’m so thankful that my aunt was married to a Sicilian-American because I got to enjoy the activities of the Italian Club, especially their annual picnics. Talk about a feast. This was the only ethnic club picnic that was held outside. In the early 1900s the picnic was held at DeSoto Park in my neighborhood of Palmetto Beach. It was later held at Rocky Point which was a beautiful section of Tampa Bay to the West and pretty much uninhabited and pristine. It’s now a mecca of hotels and restaurants. There were picnic tables all over the grounds and a huge outdoor quadrant where cooks were making tons of spaghetti and loads of chickens. Going through the line they would serve you two plates, one of spaghetti that they scooped up with a pot and the other was half a chicken – food heaven. After the eating, there was a pavilion for dancing. (Below L to R: The Italian Club Cantina, their Cornerstone placque and picnickers walking to DeSoto Park for the annual picnic circa 1912.)
The Circulo Cubano 
The building I know as the Circulo Cubano, was built in 1917. This club not only housed a theater, cantina, library, and ballrooom, they also had a huge outdoor patio with a stage for bands and entertainers. The impetus for building this theater was to give Cubans a reason to stay and not return to Cuba. Interestingly, the club’s bylaws did not allow the discussion of politics, labor or religion within the association. Members of the Circulo Cubano were also granted health care and entertainment benefits. They also provided library services and English classes. The club is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and still has an active membership. It is the oldest Cuban-American association in the nation. One of my favorite activities at the Cuban Club was their annual Halloween party/dance. My cousins and I and many friends would dress up enthusiastically and have a great time. Some costumes were remnants of what we could find in our closets and/or our parents’ closets. The dances on the patio were always a treat as well. (Below L to R: the ball room, the outdoor patio, the theater and the foyer)
More than any of the cultures that were prominent in Tampa, the Latinos were a force to be reckoned with and all three bonded as one strong community that ingrained the love of our cultures, our customs and our food. I remain immensely proud of my culture and despite whatever faults one may see in Tampa, I love my home town.