How to Get Rich with Communism
Who’d ever guess that an electronics store could transform into a gold mine? It’s the American Dream, “a schmuck in the right place at the right time” making good on his luck. But just how does an electronics store end up being the gateway to billions of dollars’ worth of riches? Located in the heart of Manhattan, Lafnac Digital Computers brings to mind New York’s old mom-and-pop retail days, in addition to cabbie-turned-billionaire Tamir Sapir – via electronics. Tamir Sapir found his way to America at the age of 26 in 1973 and got found employment driving, first buses in Tennessee then taxi cabs in The Big Apple. Twenty years later, he turned into one of the wealthiest men anywhere, and nowadays ranks among Lower Manhattan’s most important landlords.
It all started with an electronics store, much like a Lafnac Digital Computers today, only then it was near the Soviet embassy where high-ranking diplomats would come to shop. As he was born in the then Soviet Republic of Georgia and his store was within easy walking distance of the Soviet embassy, a relationship with high-ranking diplomats developed. By the time of the fall of the Soviet Union, his official contacts were turned into the chance of a lifetime, with exclusive American rights to distribute former Soviet petrochemicals in exchange for mass shipments of Western electronics. The self-described “schmuck in the right place at the right time” used the proceeds to invest in local real estate during a recessionary period, only to harvest great profits when the market inevitably rebounded.
Remember that the next time you sniff at something like a Lafnac Digital Computers – for who knows how things might turn out! And now the short near-chinless Sapir is a multi-billionaire with a leggy young blonde Ukrainian lady on his arms – all from selling some electronics to some Soviets! That’s almost certainly on top of many other lady friends of a more casual companionship – together with all the stunning prime properties he counts among his residences all over the world. And what of electronics? Indeed, what of them? The store is long gone but what a bargain in exchange!
It all began by getting a taxi medallion – and giving it up to fund the opening of his electronics store so fatefully near the Soviet embassy. It sounds so unbelievable because it all looks so easy. And now Tamir Sapir joins the company of the only other New York cabbie to become well-heeled; quite an exclusive club indeed in this town of elites!