Admiral Benbow Inn: Difference between revisions

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The  "Tiffany Restaurant"
The  "Tiffany Restaurant"


The "Copper Top Lounge", named in honor of its copper-covered tables, was managed by [[Jim McGriff]]. Early bookings included the [[Tom & Marie|Tom & Marie Hoschar]] combo during opening week, and the Stan Kenton Orchestra in January 1973.
The "Copper Top Lounge", named in honor of its copper-covered tables, was managed by [[Jim McGriff Jr]]. Early bookings included the [[Tom & Marie|Tom & Marie Hoschar]] combo during opening week, and the Stan Kenton Orchestra in January 1973.


After the [[Tutwiler Hotel]] in [[downtown Birmingham]] closed in April [[1973], many of the staff found employment at the Admiral Benbow, and the Tiffany Restaurant began serving the Tutwiler's famous roast beef salad.
After the [[Tutwiler Hotel]] in [[downtown Birmingham]] closed in April [[1973], many of the staff found employment at the Admiral Benbow, and the Tiffany Restaurant began serving the Tutwiler's famous roast beef salad.
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Since the 1970s, the hotel has operated under several other nameplates, including the '''Holiday Inn Homewood''', '''Country Hearth Inn & Suites'''.
Since the 1970s, the hotel has operated under several other nameplates, including the '''Holiday Inn Homewood''', '''Country Hearth Inn & Suites'''.


By [[2011]] it was owned by [[Dennis Patel]], [[Shawn Patel]] and [[Mike Patel]], and operated as '''Rodeway Inn & Suites''' and later as '''America's Best Value Inn & Suites'''
By [[2011]] it was owned by [[Dinesh Patel]] with his sons, [[Shawn Patel|Shawn]] and [[Mike Patel|Mike]], and operated as '''Rodeway Inn & Suites''' and later as '''America's Best Value Inn & Suites'''


In March [[2014]], the [[Homewood City Council]], citing over 150 police calls for various offenses including a [[List of homicides in 2013#Homewood|a homicide]] and prostitution over the 32-month period since June [[2011]], voted to declare the business a public nuisance and revoke its business license.
In March [[2014]], the [[Homewood City Council]], citing over 150 police calls for various offenses including a [[List of homicides in 2013#Homewood|a homicide]] and prostitution over the 32-month period since June [[2011]], voted to declare the business a public nuisance and revoke its business license.
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The Patels filed a lawsuit against the city on [[March 21]], and in May the owners and the city agreed to a settlement where the motel could continue to operate until [[July 31]], by which time it would be sold to another party or closed. As the deadline loomed, the owners asked for a year's extension to comply, but on [[July 28]] the [[Homewood City Council]] denied that request.
The Patels filed a lawsuit against the city on [[March 21]], and in May the owners and the city agreed to a settlement where the motel could continue to operate until [[July 31]], by which time it would be sold to another party or closed. As the deadline loomed, the owners asked for a year's extension to comply, but on [[July 28]] the [[Homewood City Council]] denied that request.


The property will be converted to mixed-use development and storage facilities.
In June [[2021]] a group led by [[Ash Patel]] presented a redevelopment proposal to the [[Homewood Planning Commission]] which included demolition of the existing building for a multi-story self-storage facility fronted by restaurant and retail spaces.
 
As of January [[2023]] the vacant hotel building remains standing.


==References==
==References==
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* The Oil Drop (1974) Vulcan Corvair Enthusiasts, September Newsletter ''Vol 1, No 4''
* The Oil Drop (1974) Vulcan Corvair Enthusiasts, September Newsletter ''Vol 1, No 4''
* Thompson, Jeff (March 13, 2014) "[https://thehomewoodstar.com/news/council-denies-business-license-renewal-for-oxmoor-hotel/ Council denies business license renewal for Oxmoor hotel]" {{HS}}
* Thompson, Jeff (March 13, 2014) "[https://thehomewoodstar.com/news/council-denies-business-license-renewal-for-oxmoor-hotel/ Council denies business license renewal for Oxmoor hotel]" {{HS}}
* Rodriguez, Ana (March 13, 2014) "Homewood hotel license pulled after 148 police calls, including murder, prostitution, over 32 months." {{BN}}
* Rodriguez, Ana (March 14, 2014) "[https://www.al.com/spotnews/2014/03/homewood_city_council_votes_to_1.html Homewood hotel license pulled after 148 police calls, including murder, prostitution, over 32 months]" {{BN}}
* Rodriguez, Ana (March 21, 2014) "Was Homewood justified in shutting down budget hotel? 500 pages of police records suggest yes." {{BN}}
* Rodriguez, Ana (March 21, 2014) "Was Homewood justified in shutting down budget hotel? 500 pages of police records suggest yes." {{BN}}
* Rodriguez, Ana (May 12, 2014) "City of Homewood asks budget hotel owners to sell or voluntarily close in proposed settlement." {{BN}}
* Rodriguez, Ana (May 12, 2014) "City of Homewood asks budget hotel owners to sell or voluntarily close in proposed settlement." {{BN}}
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* Reed, Jon (July 28, 2014) "Homewood City Council denies request by budget hotel owners to keep business open another year." {{BN}}
* Reed, Jon (July 28, 2014) "Homewood City Council denies request by budget hotel owners to keep business open another year." {{BN}}
* McGriff, Jim Jr (2021) ''The First Line Manager: Leadership at the Bottom of a Corporation'' self-published ISBN 9798744208080
* McGriff, Jim Jr (2021) ''The First Line Manager: Leadership at the Bottom of a Corporation'' self-published ISBN 9798744208080
* Shnader, Ingrid (July 31, 2021) "[https://thehomewoodstar.com/news/former-hotel-to-be-demolished-replaced-with-storage-unit-fac/ Former hotel to be demolished, replaced with storage unit facility]" {{HS}}


[[Category:Former hotels]]
[[Category:Former hotels]]

Revision as of 13:05, 25 February 2023

Americas Best Value Inn & Suites, c. 2006
Tiffany Restaurant at The Admiral Benbow Inn

The Admiral Benbow Inn was a 4-story, 200-room hotel and convention center located at 260 Oxmoor Road near I-65 in Homewood.

Admiral Benbow Inns were founded in Memphis, Tennessee by Robert B. Wood and expanded in partnership with Interstate Inns Inc. of Memphis. The chain had 18 restaurants and 6 motels when the Mobile-based Morrison Cafeterias Consolidated Inc. agreed to purchase it in 1967. The deal closed in April 1968.

The Homewood hotel project was announced as a $4 million, 5-story, 300-room luxury hotel in September 1970. It was developed by Johnson Rast & Hays for Joseph Sandner Jr and a local group of investors. Harry D. Hester & Associates designed the building. The site, "along the crest of Red Mountain", was annexed into Homewood. Called the Admiral Benbow Inn of Two Cities, it was to have featured a rooftop restaurant with views of Birmingham and Homewood. The meeting facilities were to have included a 2,500-seat ballroom and display areas for trade shows. The parking area was designed for 500 cars.

The final project was reduced in scope to just four floors with 200 rooms and smaller convention facilities. In April 1972 the project was listed as having a construction cost of $1.5 million. It opened on December 1, 1972. It boasted the 150-seat restaurant, lounge, meeting facilities for 300, and an outdoor swimming pool. Edmondson Management Services of Memphis operated the hotel which was franchised to Morrison Inc.

The "Tiffany Restaurant"

The "Copper Top Lounge", named in honor of its copper-covered tables, was managed by Jim McGriff Jr. Early bookings included the Tom & Marie Hoschar combo during opening week, and the Stan Kenton Orchestra in January 1973.

After the Tutwiler Hotel in downtown Birmingham closed in April [[1973], many of the staff found employment at the Admiral Benbow, and the Tiffany Restaurant began serving the Tutwiler's famous roast beef salad.

In May 1975 the Vulcan Corvair Enthusiasts hosted the national Corvair Society of America convention at the Admiral Benbow.

Since the 1970s, the hotel has operated under several other nameplates, including the Holiday Inn Homewood, Country Hearth Inn & Suites.

By 2011 it was owned by Dinesh Patel with his sons, Shawn and Mike, and operated as Rodeway Inn & Suites and later as America's Best Value Inn & Suites

In March 2014, the Homewood City Council, citing over 150 police calls for various offenses including a a homicide and prostitution over the 32-month period since June 2011, voted to declare the business a public nuisance and revoke its business license.

The Patels filed a lawsuit against the city on March 21, and in May the owners and the city agreed to a settlement where the motel could continue to operate until July 31, by which time it would be sold to another party or closed. As the deadline loomed, the owners asked for a year's extension to comply, but on July 28 the Homewood City Council denied that request.

In June 2021 a group led by Ash Patel presented a redevelopment proposal to the Homewood Planning Commission which included demolition of the existing building for a multi-story self-storage facility fronted by restaurant and retail spaces.

As of January 2023 the vacant hotel building remains standing.

References

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