Admiral Benbow Inn
The Admiral Benbow Inn was a 4 story hotel and convention center built in 1971 and when it opened it boasted the Tiffany Restaurant, the Copper Top Lounge, banquet facilites for 300 and an outdoor swimming pool. The hotel was located at 260 Oxmoor Road near I-65 in Homewood. Originally based in Memphis, Tennessee - the chain of 10 hotels throughout the southeast was bought by Alabama-based cafeteria corporation Morrison Inc. in April 1968. Through the first half of the next decade, Morrison quickly expanded the number of locations in Alabama and Tennessee. Following the closure of the famous Tutweiler Hotel in April 1973, many of the staff began working at the Admiral Benbow and the Tiffany Restaurant soon became known for serving the Tutweiler's beloved roast beef salad. In May 1975, the hotel was the site of the Corvair Society of America's Convention hosted by the newly formed Vulcan Corvair Enthusiasts club. The building has gone by several names including the Holiday Inn Homewood, Country Hearth Inn and Suites, and most recently it was operated as America's Best Value Inn & Suites. Due to the high level of crime reported there, the Homewood City Council decided to deny the renewal of the hotel's business licence in March 2014 after lengthy debate. The property will be converted to mixed-use development and storage facilities.
References
- Time Magazine (Apr. 05, 1968) Restaurants: Success at 4
- The Oil Drop (1974) Vulcan Corvair Enthusiasts, September Newsletter Vol 1, No 4
- Jim McGriff Jr. (2021) The First Line Manager: Leadership at the Bottom of a Corporation