J.C. Newman Cigar Co. and a local restaurant group are teaming up to turn Ybor City’s historic Sanchez y Haya building into an upscale full-service restaurant, cigar lounge and small boutique hotel. The multi million dollar restoration of the 1910 landmark is slated to wrap in time for a reopening by Thanksgiving 2026, aiming to stitch the building back into everyday neighborhood life while tying El Reloj’s cigar tourism to new dining and lodging options right across the street.
What’s Going In
As reported by the Tampa Bay Times, the project pairs J.C. Newman with the hospitality team behind Willa’s and Cheeky’s and follows roughly a $20 million renovation. The Times’ early look includes photos and renderings that show off the restored facade and interior concepts. Developers say the ground floor is set to focus on dining and a curated cigar experience, with the upper level becoming a small inn.
Names and Concepts
On its El Reloj District materials, J.C. Newman lays out three planned concepts inside the building: Elaine’s Restaurant, Stanford’s Cigar Club and The Inn at El Reloj, all currently listed with an opening timeline of late 2026. The company describes Elaine’s as “an elegant, full service restaurant inspired by the grace and confidence of Elaine Newman,” positioning the space as polished yet firmly rooted in family history.
Local Partners and Jobs
The hospitality group Please & Thank You, which operates Willa’s and Cheeky’s, appears on the El Reloj District partner list and is set to serve as the local operator for the food and beverage program. Tampa Bay Business & Wealth reports the restoration was presented to city officials as a roughly $19 million project that could create about 75 jobs, with the East Tampa CRA committing a $5 million grant to support historic preservation work and public realm upgrades around the site.
Public Support and Preservation
City of Tampa records and CRA documents outline a mix of public funding and preservation oversight behind the project, including a $5 million CRA investment layered with county and federal grants to stabilize and restore the century old structure. According to the City of Tampa, the restoration has been reported at about $18.5 million and is expected to be complete in October 2026. Drew Newman has called the effort “a privilege for us to preserve this piece of Tampa’s history.” Earlier coverage has tracked the CRA backing and preservation milestones as the project moved forward.
What To Watch Next
As interior work ramps up, expect hiring notices, menu teases and more detailed renderings in the runup to opening. J.C. Newman is already inviting people to sign up for project updates and employment alerts tied to the new district. The Sanchez y Haya comeback is landing at the same time other Ybor efforts, from Gasworx to nearby entertainment investments, are working to draw more daytime visitors into the historic district, 83 Degrees Media notes.
