It’s that time of year again!

This year the Columbia Restaurant in downtown St. Augustine, part of the 1905 Family of Restaurants, is celebrating its 27th Annual Community Harvest. It is a month-long celebration of local nonprofits and the work we do.

This event gives Columbia Restaurant customers a chance to designate 5% of their bill, at no extra cost, to one of the pre-selected nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity of St. Augustine/St. Johns County (Habitat St. Johns).

During the last 26 years of the Community Harvest, the 1905 Family of Restaurants, including the Columbia Restaurant has awarded over $4 million to Florida nonprofits, including Habitat St. Johns.
Malinda Everson, the Executive Director of Habitat St. Johns said “The Columbia Restaurant’s generosity helps Habitat for Humanity honor and celebrate our donors, volunteers, and community members by providing a meaningful and memorable experience for all.”

The Columbia Restaurant in St. Augustine has a free parking lot for those who eat at the restaurant located on Spanish Street.

We hope you bring your friends and family to the Columbia Restaurant on St. George Street this September and “Eat Well while Doing Good” for your local nonprofits.

Here is the official Press Release:

Eat Well. Do Good.

Help Numerous Community Non-Profits By Dining At Any Columbia-Affiliated Restaurant In September

Media contact: Michael Kilgore, 813.245.2295

TAMPA, Fla., July 15, 2024 — Support local non-profits just by dining in September at any of the locations of the 1905 Family Of Restaurants. That includes all seven locations of the Columbia Restaurant plus Cha Cha Coconuts, Ulele, Goody Goody and Casa Santo Stefano.

Now in the 27th year, the company’s month-long Community Harvest donates 5 percent of all diners’ checks to charities selected by the guests. Over the last 26 years, this program provided $4 million to Florida non-profit organizations.

The seven Columbia locations include Ybor City in the historic district of Tampa, St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, historic district of St. Augustine, Sand Key on Clearwater Beach, Central Florida’s town of Celebration, the Columbia Cafe on the Riverwalk in downtown Tampa at the Tampa Bay History Center and the Columbia Restaurant Cafe at Tampa International Airport. Cha Cha Coconuts also is on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. Ulele, Goody Goody and Casa Santo Stefano are all in Tampa.

For reservations, go to the websites of the participating restaurants.

“As we look ahead to the Columbia’s 120th anniversary in 2025, I’m reminded that great restaurants are more than just places to eat; they’re part of the fabric of the community,” said 4th generation caretaker and president Richard Gonzmart. “I started this program to help many of the worthy non-profits so important to the people who live near our restaurants across Florida. The simple concept is to ‘Eat Well And Do Good.’ It’s a delicious way to help these organizations.”

Restaurant guests choose a charity from ballots provided with checks. The restaurant calculates the 5 percent donation and provides the charity with gift certificates that can be used at any of the restaurants for up to 12 months. There’s no additional cost to the guest.

The original Columbia Restaurant was founded in Tampa’s Historic Ybor City in 1905 by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., and is Florida’s oldest restaurant.