History and Management

The Richmond was founded in 1941 prior to the outbreak of World War II by Pete Seltzer, an entrepreneur who could see the war coming. A world traveler whose prime business activity was the importation of zippers from Japan, he built The Richmond in anticipation of the cessation of trade with Japan.

As someone who traveled across the Atlantic many times on the French liner Normandie, he envisioned a small Art Deco hotel reminiscent of that great ocean liner. He could also see the need for beachfront hotels, and The Richmond was one of the first to be built directly on the ocean. It was also the first to be air-conditioned after the end of the war.

In keeping with the idea of a "carriage trade" hotel, The Richmond also had its own "woody" station wagon which was used to pick up guests at the FEC Railway station in Miami. Guest were looked after by a "Superintendent of Service", the forerunner of today's concierge.

Pat Herbert (shown here in the Penthouse Suite at The Richmond) is the person most responsible for the rebirth of The Richmond in its present form. It was her vision that led to a complete restoration of the property utilizing the finest craftsman and materials. She scoured the markets of Europe to obtain furnishings typical of the original Art Deco era.

As Co-proprietor, she is responsible for the overall management of the hotel and the supervision of its operating staff. She continues to strive for excellence in every aspect of the hotel's operations.

Miami Beach's Art Deco Masterpiece
1757 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Directly on the Atlantic Ocean