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Don Boyd | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> 1970 to 1999 Miami Area Historical Photos Gallery - click on image to view > 1972 - Tropical Park Auto Sales and the Copa Lounge on Bird Road, Miami
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1972

1972 - Tropical Park Auto Sales and the Copa Lounge on Bird Road, Miami

Bird Road (SW 40th Street) west of the Palmetto


The Copa was a rockin' place in the late 70's when we used to go there.


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Guest 04-Dec-2023 15:15
There was 2 bands ,one country and one rock
Guest 14-Sep-2021 00:20
What was the name of the band that used to play at the Copa in 1980?
Ken 05-Jul-2020 22:25
The barricade in the left of picture probably belonged to Bob's Barricades, definition of ubiquitous, you could hardly go a mile without seeing one. I lived in Miami 1970-81 and Bird RD was stomping grounds, sure don't remember Tropical Park Auto Sales, but then memory fades. Did spend much time at Big Daddy's on 82nd right across street from Sun Bank as I remember.
Ken
WROSE 24-Jul-2016 14:48
The Big Daddy's was on 82nd. and Bird Rd. Prior to that, it was Arthur's Package Store and lounge.

With reference to the lady who said her parents owned the Homestretch Bar, I recall one of the owners to be a guy who went by the name of Big John. He also owned another bar on Ludlum named Big John's Bar. The guy probably weighed in at 350 lbs.
Guest 09-Oct-2012 16:33
Grew up right behind the Copa on 79th Avenue. I don't remember the auto sales place, but I was only 5 when this picture was taken.
Guest 20-May-2012 14:31
IN 1966 THE VTROPA COPA WAS OWNED BY A REAL ESTATE BROKER NAMED GLADYS--I HAVE FORGOTTEN HER LAST NAME--VERY GREEK--SHE ALSO OWNED THELITTLE SNACK SHOP ACROSS FROM GABLES HIGH--GLADYS LIVED ON HARDEE ROAD IN THE GABLES NEXT TO J C PARK--J MUDD
Jackie Coffee 27-Feb-2012 14:55
Hi, my name is Jackie and my grandparents owned the Homestretch Bar which was located directly next door to Tropical Park Auto Sales as pictured here. Our bar was in a "mini-strip" which included a beauty shop, a barber shop (and Don, was, indeed, the name of the barber, a TV repair shop, and our bar. And the Tropi-Caire Drive-In was on the other side, butting up to the Palmetto Expressway. Sadly, Tripi-caire and the entire mini-strip were razed a long time ago and in its place is now (drum roll, please . . .) a Target parking lot !!! I'd love to hear from any other surviving denizens of the neighborhood. You guys can email me at: coffeesque@gmail.com. Peace & Love.
tim 05-Jul-2009 02:52
that was a great place to work all my brother worked at tylers it was good food them i love working with a great number of good guys like witt and howard then the owner he gave me a key to lock up at night we would watch football and have a blast with the women that worked there andy was cool and diane and her mother it was a great learning experence i will never forget i wish i could feel the same about where i work now i get great pay but it was not like the family that i had there
William Chance 23-Jun-2009 12:27
Tim and Jim,I worked at Tyler's in the Concord Shopping Center in 70-71.I started out as a busboy,then pot washer and dishwasher before finally moving to the line in the summer of 70.Dont remember who was the "Chef" at the time but he did have temper.Clarence was the prep cook and I learned alot from him.The night porter was an old black man that was locked in at night.Once he started cleaning the kitchen you stayed out unless you asked for permission to enter,failure to do so would mean something thrown at you.He liked me so I could go back anytime,but I still asked him if it was ok first.
TIM 01-Sep-2008 21:32
HI JIM AND KEN , I MOVED UP HERE 10 YEARS WITH MY JOB IVE BEEN MARRIED OVER 20 YEAR SHE BEEN THOUGH HURRICANE ANDREW AND IN THE HOSPITAL BUT LIFE GOES ON NOW WE LIKE CRUISES WE SHOULD GET TOGETHER FOR FUN ONE NIGHT ANYWAY YOU GUYS CAN EMAIL ME BUCK4040@YAHOO.COM OR HERE I WILL CHECK IT FROM TIME TO TIME WELL TIME TO WORKOUT BYE GUYS
Dave C 31-Aug-2008 21:35
I lived behind field 6 from 1964-1974, the story we always heard was that Tropical Park Khoury league leased the property from Mr. Silberman for 1$ per year and when he died that deal was null and void. Anyone else remember that. Also the barbers name was Don.
Guest 23-Aug-2008 13:41
Tim, yea I remember you Kenny's in Kissimmee, me Port Charlotte, man it's been a few years hu?
Guest 12-Jul-2008 22:16
JIM IM IN ORLANDO IS KENNY YOUR BROTHER I THINK I KNOW YOU
tim 12-Jul-2008 22:09
HEY JIM THIS TIM DID I WORK WITH YOU IN THE 70S IS YOUR BROTHER KENNY
Jim 06-Jul-2008 02:32
I also worked At tyler's on bird rd. early 70's my first job as a busboy, A.M Tyler was my first boss. thats where I started my caffeine adiction.....We had great coffee! JA
tim 26-May-2008 01:42
That was a very cool place back in the 80s i would know well
Guest 06-May-2008 00:00
Very interested in Philip's comments re: Saul Silberman. Are you related? I am.
Guest 09-Feb-2008 03:00
I WULD PLAY BASEBALL WHEN I WAS A KID HERE
Guest 09-Feb-2008 02:57
THAT WAS FUN WORKING AT TYLERS AND NOW I HAVE A GREAT JOB BECAUSE IT WAS HARD WORK BACK THEN
Guest 24-Jan-2008 15:14
TIM, you say you worked for A.M. Tyler. So did my dad, he managed every one of A.M's restaurants at one time or another. His name was Herb Smith. He is gone now but his wife (my step-mother) still lives in the same house since 1952. We used to catch all the fish they served in the restaurants and would frequently fish with A.M. in Flamingo, Everglades National park.
Armando Campaneria 24-Jan-2008 03:00
Robert Cruz has an excellent memory... This is at Bird & SW 79 Ave
Guest 19-Jan-2008 00:35
Lourdes Mendez - That's right it is again a funeral home I beleive it's calle MASPON Funeral Home. right next to it there is a mc donalds and a mini mall there
Philip 17-Jan-2008 04:36
Just west of this picture were the Khoury League baseball fields, where over the course of the years, thousands of young kids envisioned themselves to be the
next Mickey Mantle or Ted Williams. Just east was a gas station and a strip "mall"
which included a barbershop and the Homestretch Bar, aptly named for the
horse track directly across the street. Saul Silberman probably rolled over in his grave when his relatives sold the racing dates to the Calder family which would open a track in North Miami.
TIM 05-Jan-2008 03:16
I was here at the copa alot i worker for the man am tyler he was a great guy now im in orlando i miss this club Timmy from TYLERS Restaurant hello to my friends
Guest 30-Nov-2007 00:24
DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHEN THE NEW BUILDING WAS BUILT AS PICTURED HERE.THE OLD BUILDING WAS I THINK MADE OF WOOD.AND WAS CALLED THE TROPICOPA. THE OWNERS ALSO HAD ANOTHER LOUNGE IN FT.LAUDERDALE ON S/R 84 AND I THINK 441 CALLED THE HACIENDA LOUNGE.MY BAND PLAYED IN BOTH PLACES. -RICK
lmartin29-Oct-2007 15:13
I think the Big Daddy's was on Bird and 82nd and separate from the Copa which was to expensive more most of us.
robert cruz 28-Oct-2007 08:16
the copa building still stands but is now a funeral home. since being the copa it was a liquor store (big daddies i think), a kenny rogers roasters, a funeral home, a boston market, and now a funeral home again.

load with liquor, kill them, bury them was the joke about this location as i was growing up!
lmartin14-Sep-2007 23:05
It is hard to believe Bird Rd. was so open and under developed both east and west of the Palmetto. I never really appreciated this despite driving up and down it during this time. Now you can't go anywhere near this area. No wonder I hate traffic now.