Roddy Burdine
Encyclopedia
Roddy B. Burdine was the head of the Burdines
department store
chain from 1911 - 1936. A leading citizen of Miami in the early 20th century, Burdine was the son of William Burdine, who founded Burdines as a dry goods store in 1898. After his father's death, Burdines became the chairman of the department store, leading its expansion to become one of the biggest department stores in the United States
. He built Miami's first skyscraper
, and created the first parking garage connected to a retail business. In 1933, Roddy Burdine Municipal Stadium opened in the Little Havana
section of Miami. In 1959 it was renamed to the Orange Bowl.
, the third oldest of seven children. He was the son of a Confederate
veteran and merchant. At a young age, the Burdine family moved to Bartow, Florida
where his father became a successful orange
grower. When he was 10, William Burdine moved his family to Miami after a great freeze
destroyed the family's crop.
in order to cater the needs of these soldiers. Roddy worked at the store since he was a teenager, first as a clerk, and after graduating from Miami High School (Miami, Florida) becoming a partner with his brother, R. Freeman, a successful Miami attorney.
Upon his father’s death in 1911, Roddy became the owner of the company. Soon afterwards, Roddy led the expansion of Burdines. In 1912, Roddy built a new store on Flagler Street, the main commercial street in Miami. Five stories high, the Burdine Building became Miami's first "skyscraper
", and the first building to have modern electrical installation. He constantly went up north to study department stores such as Wanamaker's
and Marshall Field's
to make his department store the most modern in the country. By 1924, Burdines became the leading department store in Florida
, with people traveling from across the state in order to make purchases. It had its own post office
, restaurant
, and car dealership
. A new parking garage opened in 1923, becoming the first garage linked to a retail establishment. A new sixth story building with 150000 square feet (13,935.5 m²) opened next to its original location in 1925. His second store opened in Miami Beach
also in 1925.
Also a politician, Burdine was the head of several committees, including the Miami's Rotary Club
, and the head of the business ethics committee. After the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926
, Burdine was named the head of the rebuilding committee.
Burdines
Burdines was a leading department store chain in the state of Florida. The first Burdines store was opened in Bartow, Florida in 1896., Burdines became part of Federated Department Stores, Inc in 1956...
department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
chain from 1911 - 1936. A leading citizen of Miami in the early 20th century, Burdine was the son of William Burdine, who founded Burdines as a dry goods store in 1898. After his father's death, Burdines became the chairman of the department store, leading its expansion to become one of the biggest department stores in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He built Miami's first skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
, and created the first parking garage connected to a retail business. In 1933, Roddy Burdine Municipal Stadium opened in the Little Havana
Little Havana
Little Havana is a neighborhood of Miami, Florida, United States. Home to many Cuban immigrant residents, Little Havana is named after Havana, the capital and largest city in Cuba. The approximate boundaries are the Miami River , SW 16th Street , SR 9/West 27th Avenue and I-95...
section of Miami. In 1959 it was renamed to the Orange Bowl.
Early life
Roddy Burdine was born in Verona, MississippiVerona, Mississippi
Verona is a city in Lee County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 3,334 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Verona is located at ....
, the third oldest of seven children. He was the son of a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
veteran and merchant. At a young age, the Burdine family moved to Bartow, Florida
Bartow, Florida
Bartow is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow the first brigade commander to die in combat during the American Civil War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census, the city had a...
where his father became a successful orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
grower. When he was 10, William Burdine moved his family to Miami after a great freeze
Freeze
Freeze may refer to:In liquids turning to solids:*Freezing, the physical process of a liquid turning into a solid*Freeze drying, a method of rapidly removing moisture from food productsIn cessation of movement or change:...
destroyed the family's crop.
Burdines
Miami was recently incorporated as a town just two years back. The Spanish American War was raging, and many soldiers were training in the area. Burdine founded a dry goods storeGeneral store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
in order to cater the needs of these soldiers. Roddy worked at the store since he was a teenager, first as a clerk, and after graduating from Miami High School (Miami, Florida) becoming a partner with his brother, R. Freeman, a successful Miami attorney.
Upon his father’s death in 1911, Roddy became the owner of the company. Soon afterwards, Roddy led the expansion of Burdines. In 1912, Roddy built a new store on Flagler Street, the main commercial street in Miami. Five stories high, the Burdine Building became Miami's first "skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
", and the first building to have modern electrical installation. He constantly went up north to study department stores such as Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's department store was the first department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the first department stores in the United States. At its zenith in the early 20th century, there were two major Wanamaker department stores, one in Philadelphia and one in New York City at Broadway...
and Marshall Field's
Marshall Field's
Marshall Field & Company was a department store in Chicago, Illinois that grew to become a major chain before being acquired by Macy's Inc...
to make his department store the most modern in the country. By 1924, Burdines became the leading department store in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, with people traveling from across the state in order to make purchases. It had its own post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
, and car dealership
Car dealership
A car dealership or vehicle local distribution is a business that sells new or used cars at the retail level, based on a dealership contract with an automaker or its sales subsidiary. It employs automobile salespeople to do the selling...
. A new parking garage opened in 1923, becoming the first garage linked to a retail establishment. A new sixth story building with 150000 square feet (13,935.5 m²) opened next to its original location in 1925. His second store opened in Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
also in 1925.
Also a politician, Burdine was the head of several committees, including the Miami's Rotary Club
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
, and the head of the business ethics committee. After the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926
1926 Miami Hurricane
The 1926 Miami hurricane was a Category 4 hurricane that devastated Miami in September 1926. The storm also caused significant damage in the Florida Panhandle, the U.S. state of Alabama, and the Bahamas...
, Burdine was named the head of the rebuilding committee.