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TELL YOUR STORY! @LASOLASBLVD

STA&Y RITTER INA LEE

CEO of the Greater Fort TravelHost Owner,

Lauderdale Convention Community Activist

& Visitors Bureau first fell in love with the boulevard in the late 70s when
my father took me to dinner at The French Quarter,
fondly recall those special times I owned by the extraordinary restaurateur Louis Flematti.
with my Mom growing up here. The French Quarter was the place for a power/business
I My mom was a full time legal lunch. I remember Bob Gill, the dean of hospitality and the
secretary. She was a role model original owner of the Sheraton Yankee Clipper and
“working mother” so our time Sheraton Yankee Trader, had his own reserved table and
together was limited. When we would arrive at noon on the dot. I loved shopping the
carved out time, whether it was her boulevard, and still do. Many exquisite gowns from Zola
taking a day off during Teacher Keller, including my wedding dress, still fill my closet. Moda
Workdays or summer break or a Mario has dressed the men in my family for over 25 years.
Saturday after she was finished at
the beauty parlor (where she still
goes every Saturday for what must
be 70 years now!), we always did the same thing: we
headed to Las Olas Boulevard. We would start at the
downtown Burdines (now the Broward County Government
Center) and stroll our way to the Boulevard for shopping
and lunch. I was only a girl, but felt so grown up to be
strolling down the most fashionable part of town on the
most fashionable street. I remember thinking that if I ever
had a daughter, I would do the same thing with her.
Years later, I gave birth to that daughter, Stephanie. As
she was growing up, I replicated those wonderful
memories now as the Mom. Oh, the Burdines may be
gone and the stores and restaurants may be different, but
it’s still the most fashionable street in the most fashionable
part of town. Although she is grown and lives in another
state, when she comes home, we make a point of strolling
down the Boulevard, having lunch and venturing in the
shops and boutiques to find that one perfect treasure.
Someday I hope she moves back here and has a daughter
of her own and the three of us, three generations of
Broward County residents, can continue the tradition.

10 LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES