Graduate Berkeley
Former namesHotel Durant/Durant Hotel (1928-2017)
General information
LocationBerkeley, California, United States
Address2600 Durant Avenue
Coordinates37.8679420, -122.2563050 37°52′05″N 122°15′23″W / 37.8680°N 122.2563°W / 37.8680; -122.2563
Opening1928
OwnerGraduate Hotels
ManagementGraduate Hotels
Technical details
Floor count6
Design and construction
Architect(s)W. H. Weeks
Other information
Number of rooms144
Number of restaurants1
ParkingOnsite
Website
Official website
[1][2][3][4]

The Graduate Berkeley (Originally called the Hotel Durant or the Durant Hotel) is a historic boutique hotel located in Berkeley, California in the United States. It is located in downtown Berkeley, just off campus of the University of California, Berkeley. The hotel is listed on the Berkeley register of historic places.

History

The hotel was built, in Spanish Colonial style, in 1928.[1] It was designed by W. H. Weeks.[5] It had 140 rooms and was both fire and earthquake resistant.[1] It also had one of the first basement garages in the area.[6]

It was named for Henry Durant.[7] The bar, Henry's Publick House, is also a tribute to him. When the hotel opened it was described as a "modern luxury hotel". Harry Truman stayed at the hotel once.[1]

Hostage incident

In 1990, 33 hostages were held at gun point at Henry's for seven hours by University of California, Berkeley student, Mehrdad Dashti, who had schizophrenia. The hotel bar was raided by police during the hold up. Dashti killed one hostage and an additional seven people were wounded.[8]

Ownership

As of 2006, the hotel was owned and managed by Creative Hospitality. In 2007, the property was purchased by Joie de Vivre Hospitality for $14 million.[9] Joie de Vivre invested $9 million in renovating the property.[7] The hotel was in default in 2011 and the Royal Bank of Scotland took over as owner. Joie de Vivre continued to manage the property.[10] In September 2012 it was put up for sale.[7] The property was marketed by HVS Capital Corporation. In early 2013, they sold the hotel for approximately $27.3 million to Gemstone Hotels & Resorts.[10] Upon the purchase, 98% of the staff remained from the previous ownership. The hotel is frequented by visitors to the University.[6] In September 2015 it was purchased from Gemstone Hotels and Elliott Management Co. by Chicago-based Graduate Hotels for $47.5 million and renovated extensively, particularly the lobby and restaurant.[2] Upon completion of renovations, the hotel was reopened with its present theme and name in May 2017. [3][4]

Facilities

The hotel's theme is based on the University of California, Berkeley. Lonely Planet describes it as "cheekily" in style. A mobile made of books hangs from the lobby ceiling. The walls of the lobby are decorated in yearbook photos from the university. Hotel rooms feature "dictionary-covered shower curtains and bongs repurposed as bedside lamps."[11]

The gastropub inside the hotel is Henry's Publick House.[10] In 2009, Henry's "Everything but the Kitchen Sink Bloody Mary" Bloody Mary was voted the best in the East Bay by East Bay Express. The bloody mary features tomato juice made in-house and is topped off with a splash of Guinness.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Hotel Durant". Berkeley Historical Plaque Project. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 Pender, Kathleen (23 Mar 2017). "After renovation, Berkeley's Hotel Durant keeps quirky charm". SF Chronicle. Retrieved 11 Nov 2018.
  3. 1 2 Mara, Janis (9 May 2017). "Storied Hotel Durant reborn as revamped Graduate Berkeley". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 14 Nov 2018.
  4. 1 2 Lochner, Tom (31 Mar 2017). "Berkeley: Former Hotel Durant to reopen as Graduate Berkeley". East Bay Times. Berkeley, CA. Retrieved 14 Nov 2018.
  5. ↑ Simmons, Christopher. "Historic Hotel Durant to Be Sold: Named for Cal's First President, William Weeks Designed Boutique Opened in 1928". California Newswire. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  6. 1 2 Fowler, Carol (1 November 2002). Insiders' Guide to Berkeley and the East Bay. Insiders' Guides. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-7627-2373-7.
  7. 1 2 3 Dineen, J.K.; Torres, Bianca. "Cannae Partners pays $9.5M for Eastern Outfitting building". San Francisco Business Times. American City Business Journals. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  8. ↑ Gross, Jane. "Berkeley Gunman Kills Student Taken Hostage". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  9. ↑ Tate, Ryan. "Hotel firm Joie de Vivre makes first East Bay foray". San Francisco Business Times. American City Business Journals. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 Torres, Bianca. "Berkeley's Hotel Durant sells for $27.3M". San Francisco Business Times. American City Business Journals. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "Hotel Durant". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  12. ↑ "Best Bloody Mary". East Bay Express/Best Of The East Bay 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
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