Wallack, David Interview
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Material Information

Title:
Wallack, David Interview
Alternate Title:
David Wallack interview : Miami Beach Visual Memoir
Creator:
Miami Design Preservation League
Close-Up Productions
Publisher:
Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA)
Publication Date:
Language:
English
Physical Description:
02:29:02

Notes

Scope and Content:
David Wallack is the proprietor of the world famous Mango’s Tropical Cafe, what the Miami Herald once described as an “open air version of a late night Vegas club.” Mango’s has become the focal point of the night scene on South Beach, ironic since it was previously a home for the elderly called Eastern Sun, which offered holistic health care in a Zen atmosphere. Mr. Wallack was also the proprietor. In telling the story of the metamorphosis of Eastern Sun into Mango’s, he finds no irony. He maintains that he is still in the business of taking care of people and making sure they are happy. Mango’s is one of the top ten restaurant/ night clubs in the United States. Mr. Wallack talks about his early life as a youth on Miami Beach. His family and he arrived in 1955. His father was in the real estate business, which is how they came to own the Mango’s building. He talks about the establishment of the Eastern Sun, the first commercial ACLF (Adult Congregate Living Facility) on Miami Beach, which operated for 12 years. The care and treatment of the elderly was so exemplary and innovative, Mr. Wallack became an international consultant and lecturer on the Eastern Sun practices and philosophy. Mr. Wallack talks about the group of young entrepreneurs who started the renaissance of South Beach in the late 1980’s and early 90’s - Tony Goldman, Marc Soyka, Saul Gross, Mel Schlesser, Craig Robbins, Tony and Kent Kay - and how he was influenced and inspired to convert Eastern Sun into a night club. He talks about his philanthropic projects, giving college scholarships to his employees’ children and his work at Mount Sinai Hospital. Towards the end of the interview, Mr. Wallack talks about the move to limit night club hours on South Beach from 5 am closure to 2am, which he says will kill the night club business in South Beach and result in huge revenue losses for the City of Miami Beach. ( English )

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Holding Location:
Florida International University
Rights Management:
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Resource Identifier:
MBVM000029

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Aggregations:
Miami Metropolitan Archive
Miami Beach Visual Memoirs