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Photographs February 2004
 
 

Last Looks at a Landmark
FAI's lack of competency not withstanding, Hollywood Beach's problems were compounded by an ownership dispute -- perhaps even an entanglement with organized crime. A manager at the Restaurant told me that the property's owner was murdered which created a vacuum of ownership, but details were scant.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Plans in 2001 had called for the Motor Lodge to be transformed into an attractive deco-fied Courtyard by Marriott, and the Restaurant building was to be reused as an Outback Steakhouse. Still later, it was revealed that the entire site would be demolished as well as adjacent properties in a massive redevelopment project.

Instead, the Motor Lodge lingered on as the unbranded Hollywood Beach Inn while details of its future were sorted out. Finally the former Motor Lodge was converted into the Hollywood Beach Marriott Hotel, and Florida's last operating Howard Johnson's Restaurant was demolished to make way for the Marriott's parking garage.

 
 
 
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