Ildefonso Ramirez: Difference between revisions

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(New page: '''Ildefonso Ramirez''' (born c. 1922 in Cuba) is the owner of Kool Korner Sandwiches in Vestavia Hills. Ramirez was a chemist in his native Cuba before defecting to the Unite...)
 
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'''Ildefonso Ramirez''' (born c. [[1922]] in Cuba) is the owner of [[Kool Korner Sandwiches]] in [[Vestavia Hills]].
'''Ildefonso Ramirez''' (born [[January 23]], [[1923]] in Matanzas, Cuba; died [[January 17]], [[2024]] in [[Birmingham]]) was a chemist and owner of [[Kool Korner Sandwiches]] in [[Vestavia Hills]].


Ramirez was a chemist in his native Cuba before defecting to the United States in [[1972]]. He got a job at a friend's grocery store in South Florida, then, after moving to Atlanta, he and his wife, [[Lucia Ramirez|Lucia]] opened the first Kool Korner grocery store with sandwich counter near the Georgia Institute of Technology campus in [[1985]]. Over time Ramirez stopped selling grocery items to focus on his hot-selling sandwiches.
Ramirez was the youngest son of Guillermo Ramirez, a carpenter and blacksmith, and was named for St Ildefonsus of Toledo. He completed a bachelor's degree in chemistry in Matanzas, and then entered the Universidad de la Habana as a medical student. He left after his third year to assist in caring for his father. He found work as a chemist at a rayon factory in Matanzas. He and his wife, Lucia were married in [[1951]] and welcomed a son, [[Bill Ramirez|Guillermo ("Bill")]], in [[1957]].


When his landlord sold the restaurant building, Ramirez retired and moved to [[Birmingham]] to be closer to his son, [[Bill Ramirez|Bill]]. Within a few months, however, he and Bill re-entered the sandwich business in the former Firehouse Subs spot in Vestavia Hills.  
Ramirez began planning to defect from Cuba in the 1960s for the sake of his son. For his political views he lost his job at the rayon factory and was forced to labor at a hemp plantation for five years before gaining permission to emigrate to Spain. There Ildefonso found work selling ice cream while Lucia worked as a seamstress. The family was able to make their way to Miami, Florida in [[1972]] but he was unable to find work as a chemist. Instead he took a job stocking shelves at a friend's grocery store, and first proposed the idea of making and selling Cuban sandwiches.
 
When Bill was admitted to the Georgia Institute of Technology to study chemistry, Ildefonso and Lucia relocated to Atlanta. Ildefonso again took a job at a small grocery store, which he later bought. It was destroyed in [[1985]], and he took over the lease of another store, called Kool Korner, on 14th Street near the Georgia Tech campus. He opened a sandwich counter, near campus in [[1985]]. Over time Ramirezes stopped selling grocery items to focus on the popular sandwich business.
 
Lucia died in [[2004]] and the sandwich shop building, where Ildefonso also lived, was sold to a new owner in [[2008]], and redeveloped for a [[Moe's Original Bar B Que]]. Ramirez decided to retire and moved to [[Vestavia Hills]], where Bill was living. In retirement he sat at home watching John Wayne movies and listening to Pavarotti, but soon became restless. Noticing a vacancy at a former [[Firehouse Subs]] space at [[Vestavia Hills City Center]], he and his son undertook to re-establish his sandwich shop, having bread shipped overnight from Atlanta's Pan-American Bakery.
 
Kool Korner relocated again when the rent was set to rise in [[2015]]. After a long search he reopened in March [[2016]] in the [[Vestridge Commons]] shopping center.
 
Ramirez died in January [[2024]].


==References==
==References==
* Carlton, Bob (June 19, 2009) "[http://blog.al.com/bob-carlton/2009/06/cuban_sandwich_shop_comes_to_v.html Cuban sandwich shop comes to Vestavia Hills City Center]".  {{BN}}
* Carlton, Bob (June 19, 2009) "[http://blog.al.com/bob-carlton/2009/06/cuban_sandwich_shop_comes_to_v.html Cuban sandwich shop comes to Vestavia Hills City Center]".  {{BN}}
* Carlton, Bob (March 21, 2016) "Kool Korner sandwich shop reopens today in Vestavia Hills." {{BN}}
* Carlton, Bob (June 22, 2012) "Kool Korner Sandwiches in Vestavia Hills gets ready to celebrate 3rd anniversary." {{BN}}
* Carlton, Bob (June 22, 2012) "Kool Korner Sandwiches in Vestavia Hills gets ready to celebrate 3rd anniversary." {{BN}}
* Carlton, Bob (July 29, 2016) "[https://www.al.com/entertainment/2016/07/kool_korner_sandwich_shop_ilde.html The 93-year journey of Kool Korner sandwich shop's forever-young Ildefonso Ramirez]." {{BN}}
* Koplowitz, Howard (January 18, 2024) "Popular Alabama sandwich shop owner who fled Castro’s Cuba dead at 100." {{AL}}


==External links==
==External links==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramirez, Ildelfonso}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramirez, Ildelfonso}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:Chemists]]
[[Category:Chemists]]
[[Category:Grocers]]
[[Category:Grocers]]
[[Category:Restaurateurs]]
[[Category:Restaurateurs]]

Latest revision as of 17:35, 25 January 2024

Ildefonso Ramirez (born January 23, 1923 in Matanzas, Cuba; died January 17, 2024 in Birmingham) was a chemist and owner of Kool Korner Sandwiches in Vestavia Hills.

Ramirez was the youngest son of Guillermo Ramirez, a carpenter and blacksmith, and was named for St Ildefonsus of Toledo. He completed a bachelor's degree in chemistry in Matanzas, and then entered the Universidad de la Habana as a medical student. He left after his third year to assist in caring for his father. He found work as a chemist at a rayon factory in Matanzas. He and his wife, Lucia were married in 1951 and welcomed a son, Guillermo ("Bill"), in 1957.

Ramirez began planning to defect from Cuba in the 1960s for the sake of his son. For his political views he lost his job at the rayon factory and was forced to labor at a hemp plantation for five years before gaining permission to emigrate to Spain. There Ildefonso found work selling ice cream while Lucia worked as a seamstress. The family was able to make their way to Miami, Florida in 1972 but he was unable to find work as a chemist. Instead he took a job stocking shelves at a friend's grocery store, and first proposed the idea of making and selling Cuban sandwiches.

When Bill was admitted to the Georgia Institute of Technology to study chemistry, Ildefonso and Lucia relocated to Atlanta. Ildefonso again took a job at a small grocery store, which he later bought. It was destroyed in 1985, and he took over the lease of another store, called Kool Korner, on 14th Street near the Georgia Tech campus. He opened a sandwich counter, near campus in 1985. Over time Ramirezes stopped selling grocery items to focus on the popular sandwich business.

Lucia died in 2004 and the sandwich shop building, where Ildefonso also lived, was sold to a new owner in 2008, and redeveloped for a Moe's Original Bar B Que. Ramirez decided to retire and moved to Vestavia Hills, where Bill was living. In retirement he sat at home watching John Wayne movies and listening to Pavarotti, but soon became restless. Noticing a vacancy at a former Firehouse Subs space at Vestavia Hills City Center, he and his son undertook to re-establish his sandwich shop, having bread shipped overnight from Atlanta's Pan-American Bakery.

Kool Korner relocated again when the rent was set to rise in 2015. After a long search he reopened in March 2016 in the Vestridge Commons shopping center.

Ramirez died in January 2024.

References

External links

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