Jack Brod - Professional Career

Professional Career

The Empire State Building was opened by U.S. President Herbert Hoover on May 1, 1931. Exactly two months later—on July 1, 1931—Brod and his father moved into the seventh floor and established what became the Empire Diamond and Gold Buying Service (commonly known as Empire Diamond), making use of the name of the building it occupied for radio advertising purposes. The first office was 400 square feet (37 m2) in area, and at the time of the establishment of the business, work was still being completed on the interior of the building in the lobby and the upper parts of the tower.

Following his duties in the Army Air Corps during World War II, Brod returned to his business. He innovated, producing new ideas including one of the earliest jewellery catalogues and a toll-free telephone service for diamond orders. During Brod's life, his business moved locations within the tower, with the "moving up" given a synonymous comparison to the success of the Empire Diamond business. His company moved up to the 14th floor, before relocating to the 15th and then the 66th. During 2001, Brod invested in another move—to the 76th floor—which was the final before his death in 2008.

Brod was, as of 2008, the longest-ever tenant of the Empire State Building, and was also the last of the original tenants to end tenancy in the building (either through death or relocation to another site). He worked six days per week up until his death, aged 98, because "he love(d) selling diamonds", and often joked that he'd only retire from employment when "they plant me".