Columbia Restaurant Group, which suspended operations March 20 at all of its street-side locations, including the Columbia restaurant and Cha Cha Coconuts in Sarasota on St. Armands Circle, has announced the launch of an employee assistance fund.

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One of the oldest and most famous restaurants in Sarasota, the Columbia on St. Armands Circle, served Cuban and Spanish cuisine continuously since 1959 before having to suspend operations last month because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The original Tampa location, which also temporarily closed on March 20, dates back even longer.

Founded in 1905 by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez Sr., the Columbia on Seventh Avenue in Ybor City has been recognized as Florida’s oldest restaurant, remaining in the Hernandez/Gonzmart family now through five generations.

Over the weekend, Columbia fourth generation caretaker Richard Gonzmart announced the launch of an employee assistance fund.

The initiative will provide financial aid for staff at all the Columbia restaurants as well as Cha Cha Coconuts on St. Armands Circle, another member of the Columbia Restaurant Group. Columbia has closed all its streetside locations because of the coronavirus disaster, with only the Tampa International Airport restaurants still open for travelers.

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"We can’t know when we will reopen, but I promise you that we will reopen," Gonzmart said in a statement. "Our flagship restaurant in Tampa’s Ybor City celebrates 115 years in 2020, and our family and the restaurant have survived two world wars, the Great Depression, the Spanish flu, Prohibition, the closing of most cigar factories and urban renewal. We’ll get through this."

Columbia’s newly launched employee assistance fund will be financed by 100 percent of gift card sales collected from the time they closed (March 20) until the end of April. To help, visit columbiarestaurant.com and click on the gift card tab.

"In times of stress and crisis, our Gonzmart Family of Restaurants team has always been there for you to provide sustenance and solace," Gonzmart said. "We will be there for you again. And we can’t wait to see you. Be safe. Stay strong. have faith. Together, we’ll get through this."

READ MORE: Restaurant news for Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties

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