Jack Grodzinsky, along with his wife and children, arrived in Tucson from New York in 1949. When he could not find a business he liked, and not having enough money for a car, he took the bus to Phoenix. At the bus stop, there was a small restaurant called Pat’s Café which specialized in typical “Arizona” type food such as chicken fried steak and liver & onions.

After four hours of looking around, Jack returned to the bus stop and purchased the existing café. Wanting to change the menu a bit, Jack tried to introduce corned beef and pastrami. However it was rejected for the most part, since the general public was not familiar with these “back East” delicacies.

After Pat’s Café was operating, Jack and his two sisters purchased Herman’s Corned Beef Junction at McDowell Road and 16th Street. This outlying area from 7th Street to 24th Street on McDowell Road was the first business district to be developed away from downtown.

It was a mile long strip of small stores known as “MIRACLE MILE.”

Jack decided to change the name of Herman’s Corned Beef Junction to Miracle Mile so that everyone would always remember the location. Since the restaurant had earned a fabulous reputation, each subsequent location continued to use the name Miracle Mile for the reason of recognition.

It has all since become only a memory, however the
Miracle Mile tradition continues as we carry on the name with pride, offering consistently delicious food, reasonable prices and quick service.

This is everything Jack Grodzinsky had ever wanted from his restaurants!