Another piece of business history disappears

About 10 years ago Louis Flematti gave me a tour of the French Quarter, his restaurant just north of Las Olas Boulevard, and talked about how he had sold his 10 lots on the restaurant’s block to a developer.

What eventually emerged was the 30-story Amaray Las Olas, which has a coffee bar, yoga studio, swimming pool, billiard lounge, dog spa and dog park for residents. From a bottom line viewpoint, it’s a better and higher use of the property. Still, it seemed like another bit of Fort Lauderdale’s business history was lost. When I moved to the city in 1984, the French Quarter was the downtown hot spot for not only power lunches, but enjoying music upstairs in the evening.

In 2006, there was the consolation of Flematti’s Café de Paris still being open on Las Olas, but now that’s closing on May 15. Maybe there is time for one more Steak Diane dinner. In an era of ever changing, what’s hot now restaurant concepts, the 50-year-old Café de Paris has been a rock in offering classic French cuisine.

While Flematti in 2006 told me about challenges from the cost of insurance and finding good help, this time around he told the Sun Sentinel that he sold the property to the Las Olas Co. during the recession with the agreement that he would run it a few more years. He nows plans to travel with his wife.

In a rapidly redeveloping downtown like Fort Lauderdale, I can’t think of another fine dining restaurant that has lasted this long. During a grand opening for Capitol Lighting’s store on Sunrise Boulevard Tuesday night, a long-time Realtor told me he thought the restaurant scene in the city had actually gone down hill from the 1970s and 1980s.

Fort Lauderdale is by no means the only South Florida city facing changes. The end of Tobacco Road was a major loss of the Miami’s history, although Norwegian Cruise Line deserves credit for keeping some of its history alive on the Norwegian Escape.

There may be limits, though, even if there’s a better higher use of property. I can’t imagine what the reaction would be if it was announced Joe’s Stone Crab was being torn down for another condo. The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale is on the National Register of Historic Places.

If you are feeling nostalgic, here are a couple of stories from the Sun Sentinel and Eater about historic restaurants in the region – many of them still open.

 

 

You May Also Like
Reaching Out

I know that Stephen Garber knows people. The president of Third Level is a seasoned expert on change management, relationship building and quality-of-life issues. He is an international executive coach,

Read More
Stephen Garber
SOUTH FLORIDA BUSINESS & WEALTH GOES 2.0

This is the time and this is the page when the new editor-in-chief typically would tell you to get ready for a new SFBW experience—but since you’ve seen the cover,

Read More
Are Your Salespeople Taking Shortcuts?

Connor, a software sales rep, had been having a rough day. He’d been bombarded with questions from several customers and gotten behind on work he needed to finish before the

Read More
COVID and the Commercial Sector

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text] For South Florida’s vigorous commercial real estate sector, there is a Grand Canyon-size fissure between market conditions on March 1 and

Read More
Other Posts
Planes, Rockets, Yachts and More: South Florida is the Global Servicing Hub For All

Hollywood-based Heico Corp. co-CEO Victor Mendelson says, “If it flies, we’re on it… we make the guts inside.”

Read More
This CEO Blends His High-Velocity Business with Life in the Fast Lane

Bitlux CEO Kyle Patel has always loved all “things that went fast”—and now they’re as much a part of work as they are recreational.

Read More
High property taxes among the unpleasant costly surprises greeting wealthy transplants to Florida

Despite that fact, year-round sunshine, a lively social scene and the Florida lifestyle supersede the lack of cost savings.

Read More
Miami Continues to lead the World When it Comes to Cruising

PortMiami welcomes 8.2 million passengers annually and leads the way in sustainability with the largest shore-power system in the world.

Read More