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| The Las Olas Company Celebrates Historic 70th Anniversary of its Company and Famous Riverside Hotel |
The Las Olas Company is thrilled to celebrate 70 years of excellence this year. The Riverside Hotel opened its doors on December 12, 1936 and continues to raise the bar by offering its guests a sense of charm and elegance that sets them apart from anywhere else in the world. On its 70th anniversary, the hotel stands poised to continue paving the way for another 70 years of success.
"The anniversary of this company and its landmark hotel is a true testament to the hard work and perseverance our family-owned company and what it has bestowed upon the City of Fort Lauderdale," said Irving H. Bowen, chairman and president of The Las Olas Company.
The history of the Riverside Hotel dates back to the 1930's, when brothers Preston A. Wells, John Wells and Thomas Wells began visiting Fort Lauderdale. The Wells family purchased property in the early 1930's in order to establish their family owned and operated business, The Las Olas Company, Inc., originally named The Coast Guard Development Co., and began as a company specializing in the rental or sale of beach and ocean front cottages. Since then, The Las Olas Company has evolved into residential, retail and office leasing, along with owning and managing the Riverside Hotel.
"Starting a major enterprise in the middle of the great depression was a risky proposition," said Barbara Wells, director and stockholder of The Las Olas Company. "My grandfather Preston and his brothers determined that Fort Lauderdale had great potential. Clearly, it was a risk that paid off, as evidenced by the growth this area continues to experience today."
In 1935, plans were drawn to build a three-story 80-room hotel with baths, terra cotta tile floors, three fireplaces, lush tropical gardens and landscaping. The Wells honored its newly appointed general manager, Champ Carr, by naming the hotel after him. In 1947, Carr stepped down and the hotel took on a new name, The Riverside Hotel.
"The Riverside Hotel has delivered great value to our local economy for the last 70 years," added Bowen. "Our company is committed to enriching the lives of Fort Lauderdale's residents and providing a memorable and fantastic experience for tourists and business traveler's alike."
Today, The Las Olas Company continues to manage the Riverside Hotel and many of the shops and offices on the boulevard. One of the company's primary goals has been to distinguish Las Olas Boulevard and make it one of the world's most sought-after shopping, dining and entertainment destinations.
The Riverside Hotel is located at 620 East Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale, please call 954-467-0671 for more information or visit them on the Web at http://www.riversidehotel.com.
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