Oral History Program (OHP) 

The Columbia Restaurant Oral Histories

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Andy Huse, assistant librarian in USF Libraries’ Special & Digital Collections, interviewed people from the Columbia Restaurant Group, including the executive chef, a legendary waiter, the Chief Executive Officer, and other staff members. This series examines the history of this legendary restaurant, the family’s business struggles, community issues, and the Gonzmart family’s legacy of generosity.

These interviews also played a vital part in Huse’s book, “The Columbia Restaurant: Celebrating a Century of History, Culture, and Cuisine (University Press of Florida, 2009).

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