1674-7 Tony Goldman INTERVIEW WITH
TONY GOLDMAN
JULY 2, 2004
Came down with partner in 1982, not knowing anything about SoBe.
Looked around Flagler Street but it looked like less of an opportunity, Coconut Grove
had a Bohemian soul. Bought 4 buildings. Got dillusional, started to see now acceptable
asthetics. The art form of the old Grove was vanishing.
Rode over to South Beach(1985), saw Ocean Drive, it change my and my family's life.
I never knew of Capitman, In 1951, my grandmother took my brothers and me to the
Roney for a holiday.
I was physicall and spiritually moved, I was dead in my tracks, my heart pounding."
Got our of car at Sixth Street, Park Central in front of me, It was like I had fallon upon
King Solomon's mines. I was with a broker, Vince Pastori. My sense of falling in love
was a vision of an American Riviera. The Park Center was the first of 18 buildings in
1985-1986. Now have four properties: Imperial, Park Central, Heathcote and a vacant lot,
[Herald December 1987: Goldman hopes to open Park Central by mid-January. Bought
Park Central and Imperial on June 1, 1986. Spent 1 1/2 million in next years and a half
fixing up properties.]
Bought a building a month for 1 1/2 years. "I saw a niche to identify the economic engine
that would stimulate change in the customer base. I couldn't reintroduce it as a hotel
community first. I identified the fashion photo business to be that economic engine. I
followed the RVs that would shoot on the Beach and then disappear. I connected with a
major player and made a deal he couldn't refuse. Wanted to centralize the industry in
South Beach and to create a customer-friendly environment with local government.
Went to Europe: Tjareborg, Denmark; largest tour operator in Europe. I leased the
Imperial Hotel to them, later the Tiffany. They filled it at $16 a night in 1987 and 1988;
100% booked. They sent Danes, Swedes, Finns, Norweigans. Then went to France. Jean-
Alexis Pougotch, owned Forum Voyage in Paris. I turned him on to the Park Central.
Made a deal with key fashion guy, Bruce Orosz, ACT Productions. (see Beacon Council).
"Difference between dreamers and visionaries is that visionaries make it happen. Got to
have a game plan. I'm a street guy with an artist's eye and a passion to make it happen.
The South Beach era will last 100 years. I don't see a condo canyon happening. My
concern is to protect the architecture.
"I believe Lenny Horowitz had a Monet quality in color sense. I had Lenny color all my
buildings. Even though he had a decorator's sense of interiors, I never used him for
interiors. Saul Gross' buildings were colored, none of the buildings the original color.
When he got sick(who?)I took care of him. Early developers were colleagues.
I brough credibility and viability to the movement. Power structure didn't understand it.
A street life environment didn't exist in Miami. Worked with Kasdin, MBDC, MDPL.
It was like hand-to-hand combat. Commuted Wed. and Sun.
Lucky's Restaurant (1988)was a catalytic experience. Badge of courage. Lucky's put
Park Central on the map..
Chaired Ocean Drive Assn., Bond issue 11,000-10,000 votes. Got OK for café life on
street. Insisted traffic be two-way.
Tiffany became The Hotel but Tiffany stays on tower because of historic district.