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President’s Message

Las Olas Association

Home on the Boulevard

Watching Las Olas grow up, from

five-and-dimes to stylish and chic

For me, Las Olas is home.
ike every home, it changes as the
members of the family grow and
Lchange. As I write this, El Camino
will open soon, and I wish them all the
success in the world. But for me, that
location is so easily called the Seldom
Seen spot, for the business that was
there back in the day.
Luke Moorman And when I think of what used to be
President,
The Las Olas Association at that address, I think back to the
days of the Chemist Shop. The
Chemist Shop was your local
pharmacy, five-and-dime, malt shop,
and counter-top eatery for soup and a
sandwich.
It’s one of the many memories I have
of a street that so often was my
playground, growing up in the jewelry
shop then run by my great-
grandfather, Carroll Segher. One of our staff, Anita, who really was like family,
would give me a dollar and change and send me down to the Chemist Shop to buy
her Virginia Slims. I can still hear her say, “Just tell them they are for Anita.”

In the back of my closet is a camelhair sport coat that my grandfather bought me
from M. Sterlings when it was on the 900 block of Las Olas. Next to the coat is a
small collection of beautiful ties that were passed down from my great-grandfather, all
carrying the prestigious name of Maus & Hoffman on the back. M. Sterling has long
been gone, but it is such a pleasure to shop at Maus & Hoffman, although not as
often as I would like. It’s nice to buy quality, and I am looking forward to seeing their
new space in the lobby of the Riverside Hotel.
When I was too young to wander the boulevard unattended, my great-grandfather
would take me to the Riverside Hotel for lunch. Back then, the space that is now the
wonderful Wild Sea Restaurant would serve a hamburger as big as my head. I can
still remember wondering how am I going to get it in my mouth.
My great-grandfather was instrumental in starting Christmas on Las Olas. Forty years
ago, Santa Claus would walk the boulevard before taking a seat. I remember being
with two of my brothers, trying to get as close as possible to Santa. As we waited for
Santa to hand us a candy cane, my brother shouted, “You’re wearing my daddy’s

8 LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES