The West Tampa Sandwich Shop is a neat, well-placed restaurant at the apex of Armenia and Henderson avenues in Tampa, that makes it because of its regulars, not tourists.

The Sandwich Shop is undistinguished inside and out, but clean as a hospital kitchen with tables for four and six, solid menu of Southern USA Latin dishes, like bacon, eggs and grits for a top meal breakfast. It is not the Columbia, nor Bern’s here, nor the new Malio’s will be, but perfect for a weekday meeting of Jack Espinosa’s friends at his Rectangular Table.

Jack Espinosa is a full-bearded man who was born in Tampa, educated in Cuba where he became a bilingual standup comedian, wonderful at the ad-lib, strong voiced, without malice but a tough talker on stage. He performed all over the Caribbean, but loves and worked in his native Tampa. He taught school. He became the effective spokesperson for the sheriff’s office in Tampa for years. He was good. The media loved him. He was cooperative, honest, got them answers. A son has become a judge, a matter of great pride to daddy Jack. But, in time, Espinosa retired and has begun a security company. But my, how he loves the public eye, the mike, the media of other days, and an audience.

Now, Jack has his own theater.

It is Tuesday breakfast at The West Tampa Sandwich Shop, though he moves to other spots around town, that can include Pete’s Place, and Iavarone’s Restaurant, and two dozen more. Jack has a limitless capacity and a dictionary of one-liners and acts. He’s fun. He’s good at what he does. Likes the center stage and prepares for it.

This past Tuesday at the Sandwich Shop, he wore overalls beneath a brown jacket, somewhat raggedy, some might say, but not me. He’s worn the coats and ties and the tuxedos long enough.

Manny Huerta is a hair stylist with a limited clientele. He comes to you, if he wants to. Takes his time. He’s good. He is an information source on golf, pro football, the movies, Florida football and Tampa - mostly Ybor City and West Tampa. Huerta has a college degree, but enjoys the freedom of the galloping hair stylist, picking his clients — no walk-ins.

Manny Huerta and Jack Espinosa are friends, good friends, great fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Gators. Years ago, Espinsosa and son made the trip to Green Bay in a cold time to watch the Bucs upset the Packers up there. Not much for a friend if you are a Bucko follower. They were hooted, snowballed, but happy even if they had to spend Saturday and Saturday night in beautiful downtown Appleton with the reporters and the team.

Huerta admires Espinosa, as do we all. He’s a Tampa product but went to Havana to college, and to hone his stage career, and his Spanish. He did become an expert bilingualist and ad-lib man, and it helped him with his entertaining and then a cop PR career.

Well, we won’t let Jack go quietly. He heads — but does not finance - this Tuesday Breakfast in West Tampa. Manny has been asking me to go. I was slow to go because you had to be there at 5:30 a.m. I gave up getting up early after working on the departed afternoon Tampa Times and the Army in WWII. Manny comes to repair my old grey hair — at least I have plenty of it — every other early week. OK, I said, if he’d pick me up at 5:15 this Tuesday, then cut my hair, fine.

He did. Espinosa was at his table for six, tapping his boot. Manny said Jack can’t sleep.

There is a list, Huerta said, of about 25 on the standing invitation list. No telling who or how many would come. But, you can be sure most would be of old Latin lineage. And they were. We needed two tables in the end. Espinosa was in charge and on stage from the start. He was funny. Huerta, a talker, gave way to the host.

Those there were Al Arango, John R. LaRocca, Phil Chillura, Joe Guardo, Jose Marti, Roland Martino, Huerta and me, who came and went. They expected Charlie Miranda, former city commissioner, but he may be running for office again, and has begun.

The topics, in order of frequency mentioned: The Gators and their national football championship, The Bucs and their lousy season in 2006 compared to the great jolt at New Orleans with a new coach and new team, good black beans and rice, Castro’s illness and anticipated passing, Tampa’s almost out-of-control growth, Maria LaBamba, and repeated funnies by host Espinsosa.

Now, the truth is, nothing to little was accomplished by this Tuesday Breakfast at Jack’s. But, it was a time when old friends got together for café con leche, and eggs and grits, if you wanted. It was a time when they caught up again with each other, shared a new and old story and got to keep Espinosa on his toes.

Might get a call any minute to work a program at The Columbia, or the Cuban Club. And believe me he can handle it, still with style. If he gets rid of those overalls.