Manufacturer: Scammell China
User: Biser's, Jacksonville, Florida
Date of example: circa 1924 – 1945

1940s ad

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Notes: Howard Biser began his restaurant career around 1910 as a waiter. Around 1920, Biser partnered with a Mr. Bingham to open Bingham & Biser's restaurant at 211 W Forsyth Street in Jacksonville. After Mr. Bingham departed, the restaurant was renamed Biser's. As the business grew, so did the restaurant, until it filled almost the entire block. In 1939, Biser's moved to Julia and Duval Streets.

In the 1940s, the restaurant relocated to 2300 Kings Avenue (US Rt. 1). By that point it was a 300-seat restaurant that specialized in serving fresh Florida seafood. In addition to the main entrance at the front of the restaurant, customers could enter through the back door and walk through the kitchen and watch food being prepared.

After Howard Biser died in 1953, the restaurant was operated by Leslie Seitz. In 1965, Biser's moved to the Heart of Jacksonville Motor Hotel at State and Main Streets.

It closed in 1968.

Scammell made china for Biser's on Trenton China that is crested with the name in script lettering and an illustration of a fish swimming with its mouth open. The fish logo was used on signs outside of the restaurants. The script-style "Biser's" was used on menus and advertising.

For more info:
Biser's Restaurant 2, by Warwick China
Biser's Restaurant 3, by McNicol China

Sources:
The Florida Times-Union, article by Sandy Strickland, March 25, 2018. History of Biser's restaurants
vintagejacksonville.net – March 26, 2013, restaurant history
The Coastal (@thecoastaljax) Instagram promo of November 2019 history and photographs

Contributor:
Larry Paul: author