American National Bank Building (Sarasota, Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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American National Bank Building
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1330 Main St., Sarasota, Florida |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | Francis Palmer Smith |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 98001154 |
| Added to NRHP | September 9, 1998 |
The American National Bank Building is a historic building in Sarasota, Florida. It is also known as the Orange Blossom Hotel. You can find it at 1330 Main Street. This building has had many different uses over the years. It started as a bank, then became a hotel, and later a retirement home. In 1998, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the United States. This means it's an important place in history.
Building History
From Old Hotel to New Bank
The land where the American National Bank Building stands was once home to the Belle Haven Hotel. This older hotel was built way back in 1886. In May 1925, the Belle Haven Hotel was put up for sale. It was bought by a company called Adair Reality and Trust from Atlanta, Georgia.
The new owners decided to tear down the old hotel. They wanted to build a brand new building in its place. People thought it might become an office building. In March 1926, construction began. The building grew quickly, reaching four stories by April 1926.
A local newspaper, The Week in Sarasota, wrote about the new building. They called it "New Belle Haven Hotel on Bay Front." The article said it marked a "New Epoch" for Sarasota. It showed the city was becoming a popular resort spot. The new building cost a lot of money to build. It was estimated to be between $3 million and $3.5 million. This would be like $40 million to $47 million today! In late April 1926, the American National Bank moved into the new building.
Becoming a Hotel
In the 1930s, more and more tourists started visiting Sarasota. Because of this growth, the building was bought in 1936 by Joseph Spadaro. He was from Boca Grande. Mr. Spadaro decided to turn the bank building into a hotel.
The hotel was described as a very strong building. It was made of steel and concrete, so it was fireproof. It had steam heat and two elevators. There were 125 rooms for guests. A special room called the Aztec Room was very popular. It was a lounge where both tourists and local people enjoyed spending time.
In 1946, the hotel was sold again. Louis Swed and his partners from Tampa bought it for $225,000. That's like $2 million today! They planned to update the rooms. They also wanted to add a coffee bar and a restaurant. The Orange Blossom Hotel Corporation was formed that year. Its leaders included Louis Swed, Jack Shapiro, and M. B. Sullivan.
The hotel was sold once more in 1950. Elizabeth Fitizie and Mrs. Thomas Kewley bought it for over $300,000. This would be about $3 million in today's money. The new owners were very involved in running the hotel and its dining room. Some famous people even stayed there! Guests included Jimmy Roosevelt and Peter Lawford. However, the hotel faced challenges in the 1950s and 1960s. Many new hotels were opening in Sarasota, making it harder for the Orange Blossom to attract guests.
A Retirement Home
In 1967, the building got a new purpose. The Trustees of the Sarasota Non-Profit Foundation bought the hotel. They decided to turn it into a nursing home. It had 60 rooms for residents. The next year, the building was updated and made more modern. It was even featured in Building Magazine for its great modernization.
However, in the 1980s, the building closed down. Many of the people who lived there for a long time had moved out.
