Opening 1922 Number of rooms 426 | Floor count 11 | |
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Location 44 West 63rd Street,
New York City | ||
The Empire Hotel is a boutique hotel located along West 63rd Street (at Broadway), in the New York City borough of Manhattan.
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History
In 1889, a seven-story building rose from the ground that would later become The Empire Hotel. Herbert DuPuy purchased this building in 1908. In 1922, DuPuy decided to tear the original structure down and build a fifteen-story building. On December 5, 1923, The Empire Hotel opened with its iconic red neon signage reading “Hotel Empire” erected on the rooftop. Room pricing was vastly in contrast to current numbers. Room rates in 1935: $2.00 per day – a room with private toilet and lavatory for one person; $2.50 per day – a room with private toilet and lavatory for two people; $3.00 per day – a room with private bath for one person; $3.50 per day – a room with private baths for two people; $5.00 per day – suites of parlor, bedroom and bath. Garage service in 1935: garage storage for guest car 50 cents per day, service to and from hotel 25 cents each way. The General Manager in 1935 was Edward B. Bell.
In 1938 Patrick J. Murphy was hired as the Resident Manager. The next year Guy P. Seeley was hired as the Resident Manager and Otis H. Culver was hired as Assistant Manager. 1943 brought Daniel H. McCarriagher as the new owner. Transitioning to the 50s, ownership shifted to Leslie L. Paul, who also owned Plymouth Hotel. During this time the hotel was redecorated and there was a construction of a new dining room on the lobby floor as well as an air-conditioned cocktail lounge and coffee shop.
The New York hotel was untouched from when it was rebuilt in 1922 until it received a refurbishment in 2007 by interior designers Goodman Charlton. The duo oversaw the interior design of the guestrooms, suites and public areas, transforming The Empire Hotel into the majestic property that its name suggests. The design and décor of the Empire Hotel is a classic, neutral palette of ochre, coffee, cream and caramel, and is accented by hand-crafted metalwork such as hammered bronze, brass and copper. All furnishings and fittings were custom designed for the Empire Hotel, making it truly one of a kind.
Accommodations
The Empire Hotel has 426 guestrooms, including 50 suites, 7 of which are Living Room Suites.