Again demonstrating that projects are sometimes worth the wait, the long anticipated (announced here in October 2021) Hotel Cleo opened its doors in the last hours of 2023. Announced a full two years, two months ago, it has been rumored to be elegant and beautiful, but had remained largely unseen until December. I took a walk around the new hotel with HD Patel, CEO of Ephant Group. Jim Turner, and Oliver Smith are the majority owners of the hotel.
The photos you see here, mostly provided by the hotel, show what I would find less possible to explain adequately. The hotel truly is beautiful and unique in the Knoxville market. The large rooms, many with private seating areas separated from the bedroom, feel more like a small, elegant apartment in the city than like a hotel. Care has been taken to blend the antiques and commissioned pieces with the feel and look of the old brick in the 1898 Hope Brothers Building. It’s easy to imagine the hotel always inhabiting the space which, in fact, remained empty for decades and well after downtown’s resurgence.
The five-story building, which features the hotel lobby, featuring “cushioned banquettes wrapping the deco-era storefront windows” and Lilou on the ground floor, includes four rooms on each of the top four floors, for sixteen total rooms. Each floor includes a finely appointed common seating area available for all guests. Freshly baked goods are provided there each day from the pastry kitchen in the basement. Each room also has its own gathering spot with comfortable seating.
A step onto the elevator reveals a detailed marble mosaic on the floor, just the beginning of dozens of similar details. Most of the rooms feature French doors dividing the living from the sleeping space, with ” Louis XVI-inspired beds positioned near the historic windows.” The original hardwood floors have been preserved and new wooden beams line the ceilings, appearing as if they were placed there when the building was constructed. The bathrooms feature brass fixtures and marble vanities. Ample armoires and other specially selected furniture fill the space.
The ceilings stretch thirteen to fourteen feet, while the rooms range upwards of 600 square feet, or larger than some urban homes. HD said they wanted it to feel as if you were using your friend’s elegant urban home for the weekend. It further reminded me of European hotels (only with MUCH larger rooms).
“We kept as many of the historic elements” as possible. Replacing the massive windows became a challenge. He said once they had decided on the pieces of furniture for the rooms and common areas, they faced the challenge of getting them to the top floors. In the end, some pieces had to be cut into sections and reassembled as there was no other way to get them to their assigned floors. He said the process took weeks, but they are very pleased with the results.
As for the demand for this level of product, HD, who knows the business very well, said he isn’t worried. “Once you reach the million people demographic (in the metro area), people look for this kind of product. Two, three, four years ago, Knoxville wasn’t ready . . .” but now, he said the time has arrived for elevated design like that provided for the hotel by Streetsense. While the concept works in this market for sixteen rooms, he said, “if you do forty, the charm is gone.”
Design Innovation Architects, spearheaded by Oren Yarbrough, provided their design and architectural expertise. Oren said, “One of the fun things I was proud of in the renovation of the building was that we were able to repair and restore the glass clerestory at the front to show the original art deco pattern from the 1930’s.”
He said it was very difficult, but “I learned so much in the last two years.” It was difficult making the numbers work as interest rates increased and market conditions shifted. It’s part of the reason they did not rush to open. “To create something like this takes time. Every room has different furniture. We tried not to cut corners even with small stuff.” Ephant group selected the art, and he said it was one of the most difficult tasks. He said they looked for pieces and a look for the entire space that was “timeless.”
He said the “Cleo” reminds him of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony, a period he enjoys. His dog is named “Leo,” and the modern name has roots in ancient Greek in a term that meant “the glory.” All taken together, he felt it to be a perfect name for the hotel. He attributes much of the result to the Streetsense group, who he calls “magical.” He said they are very particular about taking on a project and this is their first in the state. “I wanted to create something that my family and I can cherish forever that we have done.”
The elegance starts at the entrance and carries through the lobby to the restaurant downstairs (which opens tomorrow – look for more about it in our next article). He said many patrons who have enjoyed the soft openings at Lilou the last two weeks have gotten excited as they have learned of the hotel above. It’s a great place for a cozy get-away or staycation.
Ephant group not only developed the property but will manage the hotel. The partners also purchased the adjacent building at 430 South Gay Street, former home to Blackhorse Grill (and Five Bar and Arby’s). The restaurant space will become The Kennedy and they hope to open this spring. The apartments above, Tailor Lofts, are divided into long-term leases (six homes) and short-term leases (3 units).
It’s truly more beautiful than the photographs and I’d encourage you to try to sneak a peek if possible. If you have guests coming into town who would appreciate a luxury experience with a historic twist in the heart of downtown, this fits the bill. Rates currently range from just under $300 per night to just over $600. For most of the year, the lower end ranges in the $400+ range. Fall (football!) will see a spike in prices from September through November. You can find all the details on their website.