Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant
La Casa de Juan Bandini |
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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(2019)
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2660 Calhoun St. Old Town, San Diego |
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| Built | 1829 |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial |
| Part of | Old Town San Diego Historic District (ID71000182) |
| Designated CP | September 3, 1971 |
The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant is a special historic building. It is located in the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. This building was first built in the early 1800s. A man named Juan Bandini built it as his home. Later, Albert Seeley bought it and turned it into a hotel for stagecoaches.
In 2010, the hotel was fixed up and a nice restaurant was added. This brought back its old charm from the 1870s. Today, it is a main attraction in the original downtown area of San Diego.
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A Look Back: The Hotel's Journey
The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant started as a home. It was built between 1827 and 1829. Don Juan Bandini, a cattle rancher, owned it. It was a one-story home built in the Spanish colonial style.
In the 1850s, Bandini sold his house. By 1869, it was bought by Albert Seeley. He was a stage master, meaning he ran stagecoach lines. Seeley fixed up the old adobe house. He added a second floor and turned it into a hotel. It became a popular stop for stagecoaches.
Seeley changed the old adobe house into an L-shaped hotel. It was built in the Greek Revival style. He updated the first floor. He also added a wooden second story and balconies. The hotel did very well as a stagecoach stop. It had 20 rooms for travelers. People would stay there when traveling between Los Angeles and San Diego.
By 1888, Seeley sold the hotel. This was because trains became more popular than stagecoaches. Also, the downtown Gaslamp Quarter was growing. After Seeley sold it, the building was used as a factory for olives.
A New Name: "The Miramar"
In 1928, Don Juan Bandini's grandson bought the property. His name was Cave J. Couts Jr. He wanted to fix it up to honor his mother. Her name was Ysidora Bandini de Couts.
Couts changed the building's style. He used a design called Steamboat Revival architecture. By 1930, the building had electricity and gas. Cave J. Couts Jr. then renamed the building. He called it "The Miramar" hotel and restaurant.
Becoming a State Historic Site
In 1945, James H. and Nora Cardwell bought the Bandini property. Their son, Frank, updated the building in the 1950s. He made it into a fancy motel for tourists.
The Cardwells eventually sold the property. The State of California bought it in 1968. This was the same year Old Town became a state historic park. The State of California worked with a restaurant owner, Joseph Melluso. They agreed to restore the hotel. They wanted it to look like it did during the Cosmopolitan Hotel's time.
Opening Its Doors Again
The Cosmopolitan Hotel reopened on July 21, 2010. It was ready for guests as a hotel and restaurant. Huge restoration work brought back its grand look from the 1870s.
In August 2011, Joseph Melluso sold most of his ownership. Catherine Miller took over. In July 2013, the Cosmo was taken over by Old Town Family Hospitality Corp. The owner, Chuck Ross, also runs other restaurants in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. These include Casa de Reyes and Barra Barra Saloon.
Original Design of the House
Don Juan Bandini built his first home between 1827 and 1829. It was a single-story adobe house. It had a roof made of straw. It was located on the southeast corner of the Old Town, San Diego plaza.
The original house had seven rooms. It also had an entrance, a closed courtyard, and a corral for animals. There were also several sheds. The Casa de Juan Bandini had special features. These were usually only found in California missions. In the 1840s, Bandini added more things. He put in glass windows and a brick patio with a well. He also added a small bathhouse. He hoped these changes would make his daughters visit more often.
Haunted Stories
Some people say the Cosmopolitan Hotel is haunted. They report seeing friendly spirits in the guestrooms. There's even a cat that supposedly roams around.
One ghost is said to be Ysidora Bandini. She was the daughter of the first owner. Her spirit is reportedly in room 11. Another ghost is called the Lady in Red. She is said to be in room 4/5.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel was even shown on a TV show. It was featured on Episode 56 of Ghost Adventures. That episode aired on October 7, 2011.
