Twenty-five years on Davis Islands. Countless cups of Cuban coffee served. Dozens of stunning custom homes built. That’s the legacy of Davis Islands residents, Ramon and Marilyn Perez. This powerhouse couple has fingerprints all over the island. 

Ramon, born in Cuba in 1959, has called Tampa home for nearly his entire life. “I’m a Cuban-born immigrant,” he says. “I went to the local schools, the local high schools. Tampa was a lot smaller back then. You got to know everyone. It’s amazing the people you meet over the years.”

He and his wife Marilyn have been living on Davis Islands for about 25 years, and they’ve built or rehabbed a lot of it, literally. Ramon owns Homeworks, a boutique homebuilding firm known for creating one-of-a-kind luxury residences.

“It was always something we wanted to do,” he explains. “We’re homebuilders by trade, and we focus entirely on the island. We haven’t left the island for work in 15 years, with one exception. If it’s off the island, it’s too far. However, we will begin our first off island builds in 2026.”

That hyperlocal commitment means they commute to job sites by golf cart. “If a client calls and needs something looked at, we are five minutes away,” he says. “We can handle things immediately.”

Over the years, the couple has designed and built around 50 homes on the island, none of them alike. “We don’t like boxes or rectangles,” Ramon says with a grin. “Every home we build is 100% different from the one before it.” The styles range from modern to Mediterranean, with his wife Marilyn’s exquisite design sensibility guiding each project. “She’s the backbone of our work. Marilyn is the boss of all things Homeworks,” he adds proudly. “Every elevation — front, back, and sides — has character and angles. A home should have features that make it interesting from every view.” 

Their clientele includes professional athletes, doctors, and executives, and even a few household names. “We built the home that Tom Brady rented while he was in Tampa,” Ramon mentions casually. “That’s the level we work at.”  Expect high-end, one-of-a-kind homes.

But building isn’t Ramon’s only passion. He and Marilyn also own the beloved DI Coffee Bar, a local institution that’s become the island’s unofficial gathering place. “I just wanted a good Cuban coffee close by and didn’t want to drive off the island to get it,” he says. “I never expected what happened next. It’s been an incredible and unexpected surprise.”

What started as a simple neighborhood café turned into a thriving business, so successful that they opened second and third locations, with talks of even more. “We’re talking about our fourth and fifth locations.” The DI Coffee Bar has evolved into a full-fledged community hub, now featuring more than 100 wines and a popular outdoor music venue that locals love. 

“We have jazz night on Fridays,” Ramon shares. It’s one of the best outdoor jazz venues in Tampa. The crowds reflect the quality of the music. It’s incredible. Stop by and experience the sound of music for yourself. 

The couple’s work ethic and sense of community shine through everything they do. “We’ve been blessed,” Ramon says. “Davis Islands supports us, and we do everything we can to give back.”

Their life together has been “on the move” (quite literally). “We’ve probably lived in five or six homes on the island,” Ramon admits. “We build something beautiful, then someone makes an offer we can’t refuse. My wife says we’ve been living out of a suitcase for 25 years.” He laughs.

Still, he wouldn’t trade island life for anything. “I love Davis Islands,” he says. “It’s a great family community. It’s kid-friendly, safe, and close-knit. People know each other. If something’s not right, someone steps in. It’s unlike anywhere else I’ve lived.”

Is retirement in their future? Not quite. “Marilyn likes to create,” he smiles. After all, there’s always something “new” with her name on it, especially with her sophisticated fashion sense. So they will be going strong for years to come.

For this happy couple, there’s no place like home, especially when you’ve built it yourself. “I feel very blessed to live on the island,” he reflects. “There’s no other place in Tampa I’d ever live.”