Roddy Burdine

Roddy Bell Burdine (October 14, 1886 – February 15, 1936) was an American businessman who owned the Burdines department store chain from 1911–1936. A leading citizen of Miami, Florida in the early 20th century, Burdine was the son of William Burdine, who founded Burdines as a dry goods store in 1898.

After his father's death, Burdine became the chairman of the department store, leading its expansion to become one of the biggest department stores in the United States. He built Miami's first skyscraper and created the first parking garage connected to a retail business.

Burdine was born in Verona, Mississippi, the third oldest of seven children. He was the son of a Confederate veteran and merchant and Mary Freeman. At a young age, the Burdine family moved to Bartow, Florida where his father became a successful orange grower. When he was 10, William Burdine moved his family to Miami after a great freeze destroyed the family's crop.

In 1898, Miami had been incorporated as a city two years earlier. The Spanish American War was raging, and many soldiers were training in the area. Burdine founded a dry goods store to cater the needs of these soldiers. Roddy worked at the store since he was a teenager, first as a clerk, and after graduating from Miami High School becoming a partner with his brother, R. Freeman, a successful Miami attorney.

Upon his father’s death in 1911, Roddy became the owner of the company. Soon afterwards, Roddy led the expansion of Burdines. In 1912, Roddy built a new store on Flagler Street, the main commercial street in Miami. Five stories high, the Burdine Building became Miami's first "skyscraper", and the first building to have modern electrical installation. Burdine traveled north to study department stores such as Wanamaker's and Marshall Field's to make his department store the most modern in the country.

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