Monte Proser's Beachcomber - Providence

Providence, Rhode Island, United States

This pre-tiki location was part of Monte Proser's chain of Beachcomber restaurants. It purported to be the home of the Zombie -- the restaurant name, concept and drink had been lifted from Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood. It was located in the Crown Hotel. The interiors were created by Clark Robinson. The first Monte Proser's Beachcomber was in the Theater District north of Times Square in New York City; there were additional locations in Miami Beach, Boston and Baltimore.

Sometime around the late '40s, the Beachcomber changed ownership, and became Ruby Foo's Beachcomber. Ruby Foo's was a chain out of Boston.

The Crown Hotel remained in use as hotel into the 1950s, but suffered gradual deterioration and was bought by Johnson and Wales Business College for a dormitory. Apparently, it suffered a fire and burned to the ground, thankfully when school was out of session.