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The little penthouse is on top of the Florida Life Building, one of Downtown Jacksonville's most important landmarks. Together with the Marble Bank and the Bisbee Building which are next to it, these three buildings form one of the most architecturally significant corners in all of Florida. Known as the "Laura Street Trio", these buildings are among Jacksonville's most endangered historic landmarks.
Located at 117 North Laura Street, the Florida Life was designed by renowned architect H.J. Klutho. Construction on this building began in 1911. Click here to read more about the architecture of this building.
In 1914 the penthouse was added -- "a pretty little three-room cottage" -- and the rooftop was landscaped with grass and shrubbery. This was built as a residence for C. E. Clark, secretary of the Peninsular Casualty Company, which had its offices below and which was the sister company of the Florida Life Insurance Company, owner of the building. Klutho's majestic skyscraper outlasted the Florida Life Insurance Company, which went bankrupt in 1915.
About 1940, a man
named Bernard Berney
moved into the penthouse atop the Florida Life Building. He was
definitely one of Downtown Jacksonville's most interesting characters.
from The Jacksonville Story:
"THE MAN IN GREEN" -- It was always
St. Patty's Day at a once famous Jacksonville restaurant.
Pictured above is one of the most colorful
businessmen to ever serve Downtown, the legendary Bernard Berney,
who may've looked like a leprechaun at first glance. He loved
green so much that he actually was featured in Ripley's "Believe It or
Not" newspaper column. Without fail, Berney dressed in green
garments, sporting a green diamond ring and an ever-ready smile.
<>
Berney used to be a familiar sight downtown, standing at his restaurant's front door. His popular slogan? "Dine with the Man in Green." Berney's Restaurant was located in the Elk's Club Building on Forsyth Street, next to the old Roosevelt Hotel. His eatery opened on St. Patrick's Day, 1927, and closed during the early 1960s.
<>
Huge green
billboards ballyhooed Berney's on
roads leading into
Jacksonville. The establishment was bedecked in his favorite
color, with a green bar, booths, chairs, table cloths, and floor
tiles. Shamrocks adorned some of the ceilings. From
green menus, patrons selected such regal dishes as veal pepperoni and
stuffed lobster. The establishment even drew notables like Greer
Garson ("Mrs. Miniver," "Goodbye, Mr. Chips") and New York Yankees
player Hank Greenberg. Prominent local citizens received the
honor of having their favorite sandwiches named after them.
<>
BULLDOG IN PENTHOUSE -- Customers always asked about Peggy first, and about Berney next, as Berney himself reminisced. Peggy was the businessman's beloved Boston Bulldog. Her image graced restaurant glassware and china. The cute pooch with the green outfit spent her days in a green, custom-built doghouse in the restaurant office. At night, she slept in her master's green penthouse.
<>
The color green had fascinated Berney since he was an infant. He selected and wore green clothes as a child, for he found the color to be very relaxing. Ironically, Berney was not Irish but Russian.
<>
Berney
had
immigrated
to America from Russia in 1905, when he was 12. He moved to
Jacksonville as a teenager and worked at the prominent Mason Hotel,
which later became the Mayflower. Berney began by sweeping out
the basement, but he eventually rose to the position of hotel
manager.
<>
In 1927, Berney and a partner, Gus Seligman, opened Berney's Delicatessen & Grill. Before moving into the penthouse, Berney lived at the Roosevelt Hotel, next to the eatery. It must've been very convenient for him to reside nearby, for his business venture required much personal effort. The entrepreneur worked more than 18 hours a day, six days a week.
<>
Later, when he moved into his home atop the eleven-story Florida Life Building, he was still less than a half block away from his restaurant, and now he had a soaring view of the city.
<>
Poor health forced Bernard Berney to sell his restaurant in 1962. He passed away in 1967.
<>
This emerald eatery added much color to the local dining scene.
<>
<>
<>
Berney used to be a familiar sight downtown, standing at his restaurant's front door. His popular slogan? "Dine with the Man in Green." Berney's Restaurant was located in the Elk's Club Building on Forsyth Street, next to the old Roosevelt Hotel. His eatery opened on St. Patrick's Day, 1927, and closed during the early 1960s.
<>
Huge green
billboards ballyhooed Berney's on
roads leading into
Jacksonville. The establishment was bedecked in his favorite
color, with a green bar, booths, chairs, table cloths, and floor
tiles. Shamrocks adorned some of the ceilings. From
green menus, patrons selected such regal dishes as veal pepperoni and
stuffed lobster. The establishment even drew notables like Greer
Garson ("Mrs. Miniver," "Goodbye, Mr. Chips") and New York Yankees
player Hank Greenberg. Prominent local citizens received the
honor of having their favorite sandwiches named after them.<>
BULLDOG IN PENTHOUSE -- Customers always asked about Peggy first, and about Berney next, as Berney himself reminisced. Peggy was the businessman's beloved Boston Bulldog. Her image graced restaurant glassware and china. The cute pooch with the green outfit spent her days in a green, custom-built doghouse in the restaurant office. At night, she slept in her master's green penthouse.
<>
The color green had fascinated Berney since he was an infant. He selected and wore green clothes as a child, for he found the color to be very relaxing. Ironically, Berney was not Irish but Russian.
<>
Berney
had
immigrated
to America from Russia in 1905, when he was 12. He moved to
Jacksonville as a teenager and worked at the prominent Mason Hotel,
which later became the Mayflower. Berney began by sweeping out
the basement, but he eventually rose to the position of hotel
manager. <>
In 1927, Berney and a partner, Gus Seligman, opened Berney's Delicatessen & Grill. Before moving into the penthouse, Berney lived at the Roosevelt Hotel, next to the eatery. It must've been very convenient for him to reside nearby, for his business venture required much personal effort. The entrepreneur worked more than 18 hours a day, six days a week.
<>
Later, when he moved into his home atop the eleven-story Florida Life Building, he was still less than a half block away from his restaurant, and now he had a soaring view of the city.
<>
Poor health forced Bernard Berney to sell his restaurant in 1962. He passed away in 1967.
<>
This emerald eatery added much color to the local dining scene.
<>
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