Jack Brod

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).

Brod died at his home in Manhattan on January 6, 2008, at the age of 98.

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 jewelry catalogs and a toll-free telephone service for diamond orders. During Brod's life, his business moved locations within the tower, moving up as the business succeeded. 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.

The Empire State Building was opened by U.S. President Herbert Hoover on May 1, 1931. 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 m) 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.

Irven "Jack" Brod (November 29, 1909 – January 6, 2008) was an American businessman and innovator. He was the President of Empire Diamond and Gold Buying Service, a New York City-based jewelry business, which he established with his father in the Empire State Building two months after its opening in 1931. Brod was a tenant of the Empire State Building for around 77 years, and was the last remaining original tenant at the time of his death.