The Big Orange along Griffin Road in Davie has been a staple since the mid 1960s. Al Roth moved from Philadelphia to South Florida with the dream of owning an orange grove. Later, his sons built on his foundation with Bob Roth’s New River Grove, which over the last 55 years has become an Old Florida icon.
A former butcher, Roth, along with his wife Shirley and their two sons moved to South Florida in 1945. He opened the Roosevelt Hotel, Surfside Motel, and the Foto-Fair Camera Shop all before 1957, when he purchased ten acres of grove land and opened a retail shop and packing house. Mr. Roth closed his groves in 1972, but his sons continued the family business and established Bob Roth’s New River Groves three miles away.
Four generations of Roths now work the grove. Al died in 2015 at the age of 104, but on his 100th birthday, the mayor and Town Council of Davie proclaimed July 7 as Al Roth Day. The Big Orange has even appeared in a few TV shows and movies!
If you’re ever in the area, stop by for a smoothie, a Cuban sandwich, or (and) the best key lime pie in the world.
Thanks to Jordan Engelke for the great photos and for eating half of my pastelito.
flowriter.net 