Landmark Tropical Acres Cooking Again After Fire
DANIA BEACH (CBSMiami) – Tropical Acres steakhouse, a Broward County landmark, was back in business Tuesday night after a fire last summer nearly destroyed the business. The owner, Jack Studiale, called it "a special day."
Studiale said the accidental fire -- which cost more than $1 million dollars -- began due to a faulty piece of laundry equipment.
"We had no idea it could be as bad as it (was)," Studiale said. "We had 2 or 3 days where we asked are we gonna be in the restaurant business next month or not."
But Studiale said for months employees pitched in to rebuild the beloved restaurant on Griffin Road in Dania Beach. Studiale made sure they got every paycheck they'd have earned if the restaurant was still operating. He called his employees "family" and said he wanted to treat them like it.
Tuesday afternoon was like opening night for a theatrical performance. There was the hustle and bustle backstage -- in the kitchen -- as chefs prepared the food and other employees washed dishes and silverware.
Onstage -- in the newly renovated dining room -- directions were doled out to new employees.
As the clock ticked down to showtime, Studiale planned for a flawless performance.
"When the curtain goes up we'll be right on," he said.
After the fire, Studiale and the employees went to work rebuilding. The restaurant has all new kitchen equipment, new tables and carpet and nearly all the same employees, like waitress Janet Parra.
"I almost want to cry," Parra told CBS 4's Carey Codd. "I really do. I'm so happy. Finally the house is back. It's just like going home."
The audience gathered in the renovated lobby, waiting for their tables. Larry and Peggy Jones have been customers for 20 years.
"When you find a good place you don't want to lose it," Jones said.
Studiale believes the reviews will come in strong and that his loyal clients will support Tropical Acres after a fire that nearly ruined a 63 year family business…
"It was nice that they're not forgetting us," Studiale said. "That was a major concern -- we don't want them to forget us and that was a real risk."
Weeks after the fire, the Tropical Acres' owners suffered another setback when they were targeted by thieves.
In October, two men were arrested for allegedly stealing appliances which had been stored in the restaurant's covered patio. Broward Sheriff's said they reviewed surveillance video and saw the two men along with two others on three separate dates removing appliances and loading them onto a truck.
The family owned restaurant is considered a South Florida landmark, it opened its doors in 1949.
