1627-14 Interviews ERIC JACOBS
MAY 24, 2004
2 alamacs.
Big Alamac Collins, 13th
Little Alamac, Collins 13th x street; torn down
History: Father came in 1924 from Yonkers. Grandfather had produce in Yonkers. Built
Biscayne Collins next to Joe's.
Tarleton. Read book, playwrite Great Britain. Early 19t Century. Family in lodging.
Father impressed. Grandfather Yugoslavian. 5 brothers, 6th grade, self-educted.
Traveling salesman, selling shirts, NJ and Penna.
In 1924, father, grandfather and older brother Al thought of doing produces in Miami
Beach. New territory. Realized hotel business made more sense. Drove Collins Bridge.
Saw potential. Saw southern tip as a paradise. Did 2 Alamacs. Sold first. All worked:
father, 4 brothers, 2 sisters. Despite being Yugoslavian, Aunt Florence learned cooking
from a Hungarian woman in Yonkers neighborhood.
Father Samuel —died 1978,born 1898
Mother Rose. —died 2003 at 95.
Miss Lucille is father's sister.
Al was accountant.
Walter front man
Milton kitchen
Bob a kid
Morris bar
Lucille hostess
Florence kitchen.
Sold Biscayne Collins 1930.
Sold Alamac 1838
London Arms 1932-35. Ocean Drive??
Dupont Plaza; Dupont Tarleton 1958. Got offer before completed; sold.
Only other property on Miami Beach owned by family was in mid-60s.
Uncle Bob opened two restaurants. One Isaac Gellis; other Embassy. Both on
Washington Avenue, both kosher.
Around 1968, decided to go into hotel business. Bought An-Nell (Euclid) and became
Belvedere.
Owned Ritz Plaza, Shore Club, Tarleton. Maybe first kosher hotel Sterling.
Lord Tarleton opened as kosher.
E
re
Then there was the Tarleton 72-93. Made it kosher. Had 21 years.
In 1989 saw market decline. Several koshers went down.
MAP full breakfast, full dinner. Lunch: coffee, cake, yogurt.
Tarleton 72-93 —not for sale. Guy made an offer. Sold to Pakastanis who owned
Ramadas in Colorado. Within a year, it was sold to Brazilian. Within a year, they sold to
a Chinese family. They operated it poorly for a year, then company called EFI bought—
School for Language. Operates live-in school. Successful. Owned since 1997.
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