First Floor of Restored 1929 Hotel Seville Now Open With Rooms, Spa to Follow
September 2, 2008
Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
HARRISON
Located at 302 N. Main St., the first floor of the Hotel Seville has re-opened and includes the new John Paul’s Restaurant & Gathering Place, the restored hotel lobby and the hotel’s formal dining room.
Restoration of the first floor included a 100 percent demolition of the area previously referred to as The Seville Club. It was replaced with a remarkable historic preservation effort that included the reclamation of woodwork, previous entrances and windows, wall and window repair, as well as the full reconstruction of the restrooms.
The Resplendent Quetzal (pronounced KETZ-all), the Mayan bird that is seen throughout the lobby's original tiled artwork, was preserved along with the terrazzo floor in the lobby and the original light fixtures. However, LCD televisions, in-room entertainment and hardwiring for high speed internet and wireless internet have been added.
“We’ll have a business center,” Moyer said. “The hotel will be both tech savvy and historical.”
John Paul's, located in former Seville Club space, now features three 42-inch LCD televisions, a granite-topped bar, and three murals representing the heritage of the Harrison region. The focus of the murals is the life of the community patriarch and namesake of the restaurant, John Paul Hammerschmidt. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday serving appetizers, main courses and adult beverages to members and guests. John Paul's primarily offers a hearty American fare. House features include the Sevillian Top Sirloin Steak and the Shrimp Po’ Boy.
The hotel lobby has been returned to its original grandeur while the formal dining room has been saved and repaired after years of water damage, floor abuse, and shortfalls in maintenance. That room will serve the hotel as function space for such events as wedding receptions, parties and meetings of moderate size.
John Paul's accepts dining reservations for parties of six or more. Reservations for weddings, meetings and other special group events are also accepted. Groups interested in reserving the Hotel Seville or John Paul's Restaurant & Gathering Place should call 479-981-2015 or send an email to [email protected].
Also under renovation are the lodging rooms, which are located on the second and third floors and have an estimated opening date of Oct. 10. “We’re going to have 42 rooms in the original hotel and a presidential suite that will have an outdoor deck, a beautiful parlor, king-size bed, walk-in shower and Jacuzzi tub,” Moyer explained.
Added on to the hotel in the ‘60s, the annex building is behind and connected to the main building. It will have 14 suites, six with private living rooms and eight with oversized accommodations.
“We are also opening a salon,” Moyer said. “The Serendipity Salon and Day Spa is right behind the hotel in one of Harrison’s historic Victorian buildings.” The salon will officially open on Sept. 15.
The Hotel Seville renovation project is estimated to exceed $2.7 million. PFI Hospitality purchased the hotel. The Eureka Springs, Arkansas group consists primarily of principles Jack Moyer and Don Alberson, most notably tied to the renovation of the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa and the 1905 Basin Park Hotel. However, this is their first venture in ownership, operation and renovation.
Harrison Mayor Pat Moles said, “This is just another exciting step towards the re-development of downtown Harrison. Besides the fact that it will reclaim an important historic landmark, the re-opening of the hotel will also provide much needed lodging and food service as we prepare for October’s opening of Boone County’s largest convention facility, The Durand Center.”
Scheduled to open in mid-October; The Durand Center is located directly across the street from the Hotel Seville. The center contains 22,000 square feet of multi-use meeting space with state-of-the-art technology. With the lobby included, the building provides about 30,000 square feet of convention and conference space.
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Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: [email protected]
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"
Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
HARRISON
Located at 302 N. Main St., the first floor of the Hotel Seville has re-opened and includes the new John Paul’s Restaurant & Gathering Place, the restored hotel lobby and the hotel’s formal dining room.
Restoration of the first floor included a 100 percent demolition of the area previously referred to as The Seville Club. It was replaced with a remarkable historic preservation effort that included the reclamation of woodwork, previous entrances and windows, wall and window repair, as well as the full reconstruction of the restrooms.
The Resplendent Quetzal (pronounced KETZ-all), the Mayan bird that is seen throughout the lobby's original tiled artwork, was preserved along with the terrazzo floor in the lobby and the original light fixtures. However, LCD televisions, in-room entertainment and hardwiring for high speed internet and wireless internet have been added.
“We’ll have a business center,” Moyer said. “The hotel will be both tech savvy and historical.”
John Paul's, located in former Seville Club space, now features three 42-inch LCD televisions, a granite-topped bar, and three murals representing the heritage of the Harrison region. The focus of the murals is the life of the community patriarch and namesake of the restaurant, John Paul Hammerschmidt. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday serving appetizers, main courses and adult beverages to members and guests. John Paul's primarily offers a hearty American fare. House features include the Sevillian Top Sirloin Steak and the Shrimp Po’ Boy.
The hotel lobby has been returned to its original grandeur while the formal dining room has been saved and repaired after years of water damage, floor abuse, and shortfalls in maintenance. That room will serve the hotel as function space for such events as wedding receptions, parties and meetings of moderate size.
John Paul's accepts dining reservations for parties of six or more. Reservations for weddings, meetings and other special group events are also accepted. Groups interested in reserving the Hotel Seville or John Paul's Restaurant & Gathering Place should call 479-981-2015 or send an email to [email protected].
Also under renovation are the lodging rooms, which are located on the second and third floors and have an estimated opening date of Oct. 10. “We’re going to have 42 rooms in the original hotel and a presidential suite that will have an outdoor deck, a beautiful parlor, king-size bed, walk-in shower and Jacuzzi tub,” Moyer explained.
Added on to the hotel in the ‘60s, the annex building is behind and connected to the main building. It will have 14 suites, six with private living rooms and eight with oversized accommodations.
“We are also opening a salon,” Moyer said. “The Serendipity Salon and Day Spa is right behind the hotel in one of Harrison’s historic Victorian buildings.” The salon will officially open on Sept. 15.
The Hotel Seville renovation project is estimated to exceed $2.7 million. PFI Hospitality purchased the hotel. The Eureka Springs, Arkansas group consists primarily of principles Jack Moyer and Don Alberson, most notably tied to the renovation of the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa and the 1905 Basin Park Hotel. However, this is their first venture in ownership, operation and renovation.
Harrison Mayor Pat Moles said, “This is just another exciting step towards the re-development of downtown Harrison. Besides the fact that it will reclaim an important historic landmark, the re-opening of the hotel will also provide much needed lodging and food service as we prepare for October’s opening of Boone County’s largest convention facility, The Durand Center.”
Scheduled to open in mid-October; The Durand Center is located directly across the street from the Hotel Seville. The center contains 22,000 square feet of multi-use meeting space with state-of-the-art technology. With the lobby included, the building provides about 30,000 square feet of convention and conference space.
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: [email protected]
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: [email protected]
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"