1627-1 Interviews 1
BEN NOVACK JR.
AUG. 26, 2004
Born 1956 in NYC, Mother went there to have baby.
Grandparents—Joe and Sadie Novack—built Laurels Hotel in Monticello, NY. (Sackett
Lake)
Grandfather died in 1956 or 57. Sadie continued to operate it with Aunt Miriam and
Uncle Jerry Spier ran until a cousin took over and either was killed by her husband in
Hawaii and committed suicide. (jumper, claims report.) In her will Victor, the cousin, got
the hotel.
Ii Ben Novack grew up in Laurels but he never was involved with the hotel there. He was a
good looking man and moved to NYC to be a male model. He and a partner purchased
one of the men's stores at which he modeled and they became Kemp and Novack(in
Manhattan).
In mid to late 30s, got out of NYC and came to Miami Beach. He saw hotel opportunities
in Miami Beach. Sold his half share in hab store for$2,400, came to Miami Beach and
took a lease on the Monroe Towers. He did so well he took a lease on the Cornell,
operating both at same time. He accumulated enough money to buy the Atlantis. (Atlantis
down, now condo?)Hit a windfall. He leased to Army. Others hotels were taken over,
Atlantis was leased. (Hmm) Sat back and collection 100% occupancy. He decided to
build a hotel of his own. Bought the land where San Souci sits, took on Harry Mufson
and others as partners. Dad ran it, drew the concepts of the building. Not a plethora of
modern architects in MB at the time. Only architect he knew was a junior architect who
had done some work in his clothing store, Moms Lapidus.
He flew.Lapidus down, told him he wanted Lapidus to put Novack's sketches to work.
Lapidus said he knew nothing of hotels. San Souci went up.
"MIAMI BEACH WAS UNFAIR TO HIM IN THE END"
Nothing was named for him.
I Anyhow, Novack began dealing with Firestone's widow about estate. He had to get the
deal done by a certain time or lose the option. Partners pulled out; father was too
dominant. (my word)
Novack's mother and father put up a chunk of money, there were a total of five partners
in the Fontainebleau deal, including Novack's parents as a single partner.
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While dad was at San Souci, he drew up sketches for the Fontainebleu. He wanted as
many rooms as possible with an ocean view. Didn't want a skinny building that ran from
ocean to Collins. He came up with the curve. He drew it sitting on the toilet. He had a
desk in his toilet.
He wanted an opulent hotel, got Lapidus into the project.
Novack Jr. knows nothing of Saxony curve. Father did drawings on a legal pad. He wore
a hearing aid; had been a competitive swimming and it damaged his hearing.
'(Mumbo jumbo about union fight)
Father handpicked original chandeliers; Lapidus never went to Europe on father's behalf.
In 195-57, father bought out two partners. That left one.
In 1967-68, he sees conventions as the direction Miami Beach should go. Didn't have big
enough ballroom. Took lease on property north of curved building for 99 years. Wanted
ballroom for 3,500; 4,000 if squeezed. But wanted it pillarless. Could only be built one
way to keep it pillarless. Project got one and one half times more expensive if he had
done it easy way. That's why 17 stories high with rooms on one side.
To do it, needed to find architect: Herb Mathis. Herb did ballroom, towers, etc. Never got
credit. Herb had no ego. After ballroom, got other building jobs.
1970—tower opens and there is a major battle with last partner.
Bankruptcy discussion for another day. Quickest bankruptcy in history.
In 1970, maybe 1971, at 11th hour, Kinkaid —Kentucky Central Trust—gave second
mortgage. (Original Conn. General)Kinkaid got apartment in tower in perpetuity. Ben
bought out other partner with loan. (Jr. can't remember name of other partner.)
By 1974, Beach decline starts. Bad rap, old people. Proponent casino gambling. Had Cat
Cay dual hotel, casino plan— send by helicopter.
Last years: There were biz opportunities. But he was headstrong, wanted all or nothing.
New opportunities denied him out management status. Three things led to his decline:
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1. Fountainebleau Country Club out west.
2. Could have bought Sorrento to build onto. Third tower halfway, faulty
construction, west end collapsed, three killed, construction company went
bankrupt with his money, no insurance. Cost $3 million out of pocket.
3. What was happening to MB. Hotel needed renovated rooms.
At the end, he took his last cash— '/2 million—and put it into hotel account.
Hy Gardner; got squeezed out, blamed my father.
"At very least, give equal amount to my version."
'Movies at Fontainebleau: Goldfinger, Bellboy, Tony Rome, Lady in Cement, Bodyguard.
Connery never came to hotel; background.
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