Jewish Merchants on Duval Street

Many of the first Jewish settlers in Key West worked as peddlers. In 1891, the Key West City Council passed an anti-immigrant, anti-peddler annual tax of $1,000 per cart. As a result, many of the Jewish peddlers set aside their carts and opened stores, many on Duval Street.

Rubin and Lily Appel came to Key West from Russia in 1904. Rubin was related to the Appelrouths, but changed his name to Appel. This store remained in business until the 1990s.

Information courtesy of Florida Division of Historical Resources, a division of Florida Department of State.