Hotel Plaza Athénée facts for kids
The Hotel Plaza Athénée was once a fancy 5-star hotel in New York City. It was located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, a well-known neighborhood. The hotel was at 37 East 64th Street, between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue.
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A Look Back: The Hotel's Early Days
The building first opened its doors in 1927. Back then, it was known as The Alrae Hotel. It was designed by an architect named George F. Pelham. The Alrae Hotel was a special kind of building. It worked as an apartment-hotel, offering both hotel rooms and longer-term apartments.
Over the years, the hotel changed owners a few times. In July 1950, Louis Schleifer bought it. Then, in June 1951, he sold it to a group called the Ira Fischer Syndicate.
Becoming the Plaza Athénée
A big change happened in 1981. A company called Trusthouse Forte Hotels bought the building. They decided to completely update it. The inside was taken apart and rebuilt to create a new, very luxurious hotel.
In September 1984, the hotel reopened with a new name: the Hotel Plaza Athénée. It was named after a famous hotel in Paris, France, which was also owned by Trusthouse Forte. The New York hotel had 160 rooms. It also featured a very elegant French restaurant called La Régence. A famous chef named Daniel Boulud helped oversee the restaurant.
New Owners and a Temporary Closure
In 1996, a company called Granada plc bought Forte. They then sold the Hotel Plaza Athénée in 1997. The new owner was a billionaire from Thailand named Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi. His company, TCC Group, paid £42.5 million for the hotel.
The hotel had to close its doors on March 26, 2020. This was because of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
Future Plans: A New Beginning
The hotel is planning to reopen in 2026. It will have a new name: Plaza Athenee Nobu Hotel and Spa New York. This new version is a partnership between Sirivadhanabhakdi's company, Asset World Corp Public Company Limited, and Nobu Hospitality.
The redesigned hotel will have 145 rooms. It will also feature a traditional Japanese Onsen, which is a type of hot spring spa. There will be a spa and a wellness center too. For dining, guests can enjoy a Nobu omakase restaurant. Omakase means the chef chooses the dishes for you. The hotel will also have a bar and lounge, and a special rooftop area for events.
