Casey Gonzmart Jr., a fifth-generation owner-operator of the 1905 Family of Restaurants, has officially graduated from Leadership Florida as a member of the esteemed Cornerstone Class 42.
Leadership Florida brings together leaders from across the state to develop a deeper understanding of the issues facing Florida and to cultivate a powerful network of informed and engaged professionals. As part of Class 42, Gonzmart joined a select group of civic, corporate, and nonprofit leaders who participated in a nine-month educational experience focused on enhancing leadership skills and state-wide collaboration.
As the great-great-grandson of Casimiro Hernandez Sr., who founded the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City in 1905, Casey Gonzmart Jr. represents the fifth generation of leadership within Florida’s oldest restaurant. The family business now includes Columbia Restaurant locations in Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Sand Key, and Celebration, along with beloved hospitality concepts such as Ulele, Goody Goody, Casa Santo Stefano, Cha Cha Coconuts, and Café Con Leche Ybor City.
Casey’s career in hospitality began at age 12, working alongside his father at the Columbia Restaurant. A graduate of Tampa’s Jesuit High School and Florida State University—with a degree in hotel and restaurant management—Gonzmart distinguished himself in several academic honor societies and completed a hands-on apprenticeship at Torres Winery in Barcelona, Spain.
Before officially joining the family enterprise in 2017, Gonzmart held leadership roles with Levy Restaurants at Raymond James Stadium, where he managed operations for major events including Super Bowl XLIII. He also played a critical role in opening the Columbia Café at Tampa International Airport in partnership with HMSHost.
Today, he serves as a key operational leader within the 1905 Family of Restaurants, advancing modernization efforts across technology, service models, and community engagement. He also serves on the Foundation Board for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay and was named a Top 40 Under 40 honoree by the Business Observer.
True to the philanthropic spirit of his family, Casey and his wife Jennifer have established their own scholarship program, inspired by the USF Latino Scholarship Program created by his grandmother, Adela Hernandez Gonzmart. The couple are proud parents of Adalyne and Casey III—marking the beginning of a sixth generation in the Gonzmart family’s ongoing legacy.
For more information about Leadership Florida and its programs, visit www.leadershipflorida.org.
