King Corona Cigar Bar and Café is one of the many reminders of Ybor City’s rich cigar culture and history. It sits within the historic building located at 1521 E 7th Avenue, which also harbors Ybor’s beloved artists loft’s and will be the home of the much-awaited Cheeseology. Newly completed improvements to the building’s façade shine a light on the power of historic preservation and public investment. When removing stucco from the façade, original blonde brick was exposed, revealing a design that, once restored, would pay homage to construction once considered a hallmark of the district’s architecture. The Ybor City CRA funded half of the project with a $30,000 Façade Grant, awarded to the business to help beautify and restore the historic storefront.
Meanwhile, down the road at 1710 E 7th Avenue, a new canopy was installed, adding much needed shade to the balcony of this historic building. Funded in part by a CRA grant, the improvements sought to increase functionality, desirability, and appearance of the surrounding property by replacing windows and installing the balcony canopy. Covered balconies lend to the historic feel of the district, while the new windows increase the value of the building while matching the ones in the surrounding buildings. The Ybor City CRA celebrates the completion of these projects, and its alignment with our foundations to strengthen communities through economic development, beautification, and historic preservation.
