10/18/2026
On October 6, the City of Tampa unveiled a historic marker at 1505 E. Palm Avenue in Ybor City, honoring the 1929 building that was once home to six fraternal lodges and later became the Centro Español medical clinic and pharmacy known as La Benéfica Española. 🎉
Over nearly a century, the building also served as the home of La Gaceta Newspaper, Tampa’s historic trilingual newspaper, as well as a ballroom and college facility.
The occasion held a special connection to our firm. Terin Barbas Cremer’s great-grandfather, Dr. Carlos Barbas, was a prominent Tampa and Ybor City physician who with her great grandmother, Delia Barbas, a nurse and midwife, helped found La Benéfica Española, making the recognition a meaningful piece of her family’s history and roots in the community.
Now part of the City of Tampa’s historic designation, the marker helps preserve the story of a place that has been part of Ybor City for nearly a century. We’re honored to see a piece of that history, and a piece of the Barbas family story, recognized and preserved for generations to come! 🏛️
Watch Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc. Board Member Steve Barbas, Terin’s father, share more about the building’s history and its lasting significance to our community: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19XfvzYFVX/
