Ritz Plaza Hotel
Encyclopedia
The Ritz Plaza Hotel is a closed 12 floor/62 meter hotel in Miami Beach. It was the tallest building in the city for 30 years until it was surpassed by 5660 Condominiums. It is located in the Miami Beach Architectural District
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into Miami Beach in 1939. The Art Deco tower was designed by architect Murray Dixon and opened as the Grossinger Beach Hotel. It was the first air-conditioned hotel on Miami Beach.
The hotel was used by the U.S. Army during World War II to accommodate high-ranking officers. The property re-opened in 1946 as the Ritz Plaza.
In 1989, the hotel was purchased by Ignacio Contreras and restored to its Art Deco roots, reopening in February 1990. The hotel became a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
's Historic Hotels of America in 1991. It was sold to developer Sam Nazarian
in 2004 and immediately closed for a planned reconstruction as a luxury boutique hotel, but numerous plans have stalled and the building remains closed as of 2010.
Miami Beach Architectural District
The Miami Beach Architectural District is a U.S. historic district located in the South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach, Florida...
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History
The Grossinger family expanded from their Catskill resortGrossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel
Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel was a resort in the Catskill Mountains in the Town of Liberty, near the village of Liberty, New York. It is part of the Borscht Belt. After decades of activity and notable guests, it closed its doors in 1986.-History:...
into Miami Beach in 1939. The Art Deco tower was designed by architect Murray Dixon and opened as the Grossinger Beach Hotel. It was the first air-conditioned hotel on Miami Beach.
The hotel was used by the U.S. Army during World War II to accommodate high-ranking officers. The property re-opened in 1946 as the Ritz Plaza.
In 1989, the hotel was purchased by Ignacio Contreras and restored to its Art Deco roots, reopening in February 1990. The hotel became a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
's Historic Hotels of America in 1991. It was sold to developer Sam Nazarian
Sam Nazarian
Sam Nazarian is an Iranian-American entrepreneur. Nazarian is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SBE, a Los Angeles based luxury hospitality, real estate development and lifestyle company which includes hotel, restaurant, nightlife, and real estate divisions...
in 2004 and immediately closed for a planned reconstruction as a luxury boutique hotel, but numerous plans have stalled and the building remains closed as of 2010.