Over the past 70 years, The Las Olas Company has been the principal investor in Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale's most glamorous shopping and dining district. Originally from Chicago, the Wells family began visiting and investing in Fort Lauderdale real estate in the 1930s. The Wells brothers, Preston A. Wells and John Wells had made their fortune in Chicago real estate, Nebraska cattle and by investing in a company called Quaker Oats.

On February 28, 1935, The Las Olas Company, a family owned and operated company, was established as the Coast Guard Development Co. In 1969, the company received a letter from the U.S. Coast Guard demanding that the name of the corporation needed to be changed or penalties would ensue. The company quickly changed its name to The Las Olas Development Co., but in 1991 the company was officially named The Las Olas Company, Inc.

Preston A. Wells and his wife Lonie frequently stayed at the Broward Hotel located on Andrews Avenue before building a house in 1931. The Wells brothers liked to fish and hired a guide, Captain Merritt, and his fishing boat. Frequent excursions led Preston to meet Champ Carr, who married Captain Merritt's daughter and often helped on the fishing boat as a mate.

Champ helped by keeping an eye on Preston Jr. and his brother Teddy, in addition to his job at a fruit packing company and part-time mate. Preston then bought a 30' sailboat, which he kept at 505 Mola and Champ was, once again, called upon to help.

Around 1933, Preston bought a rooming house, where Big City Tavern now sits, and asked Champ if he would be interested in painting and repairing the building. Champ was up to the task, and after the place was refurbished, Champ ran it for a couple of years and turned a profit.

In 1935, the Wells family determined that a hotel would be a great business, and plans were laid to build a three-story 80-room hotel "with baths," across the street from the rooming house. Preston was impressed by the acumen displayed by Champ and asked if he would manage the new hotel. Champ accepted and on December 12, 1936, the Wells family honored its newly appointed general manager by naming the hotel, Hotel Champ Carr. In 1947, Champ Carr stepped down as manager and the brothers renamed it the Riverside Hotel.

Today the Riverside Hotel is one of the oldest and most distinctively located hotels in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale. The Las Olas Company continues to manage the Riverside Hotel and is the driving force behind the preservation of the Las Olas Boulevard's charm and its Mediterranean village architecture. The Las Olas Company is dedicated to offer residents and visitors an inviting and welcoming Las Olas experience by combining the area's best shopping, dining and entertainment.

Las Olas Boulevard has become one of the premier shopping streets in America, offering an outstanding selection of fine boutiques, eclectic galleries, charming sidewalk cafes, and award-winning cuisine. It is often spoken of in the same breath as Rodeo Drive and Worth Avenue.