Historic downtown Macon landmark transformed: Hotel Forty Five about to cut the ribbon

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated since its original publication:

With the opening of Hotel Forty Five in downtown Macon just around the corner, guests are already booking rooms in this transformed historic 11-story skyscraper.

The 94-room boutique hotel, which boasts some spectacular views of downtown, is now accepting reservations for Feb. 3 and onward.

“We have quite a few people already booking,” said Jimmy Teixeira, the hotel’s director of sales. “People are already starting to see us and it’s really exciting seeing those reservations come through.”

Back in late November, more than 200 reservations, a mix of single and multiple-night stays, had already been booked.

Construction for the reuse of the historic Macon landmark at 401 Cotton Ave. that has had multiple uses and tenants over the years began in October 2020.

Today, the former Willie C. Hall Annex building is a Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel.

Opening dates

An invitation-only ribbon cutting, complete with tours, is Tuesday.

The grand opening is slated for Feb. 17 but that is also a private event, Teixeira said. Historic Macon Foundation is holding its annual Patrons Party as part of the grand opening.

The hotel’s chef-driven restaurant, sixth-floor rooftop bar and an eclectic coffee and wine bar are now expected to be ready to serve customers Feb. 2.

Rooms at the hotel start at an average of $160 to $250, depending on the season, Teixeira said. There’s also an upcharge to stay in a room with a historic-city view.

On Monday, the rate for an overnight stay Feb. 3 when booking on marriott.com started at $185 for a member prepay, king-bed guest room. The rate was $189 for a non-member.

History

The name Hotel Forty Five pays homage to the 45-degree intersection of Cherry and First streets with Cotton Avenue and to Macon’s music history and 45 rpm records.

“There’s just so much inspiration and stories in Macon, and we kind of intertwined those stories into the hotel,” Teixeira said. “It’s a neat experience from that.

“Hotel Forty Five is just an experience that you’ll get that’s not just your brick and mortar — captivating design, a vibrant social scene but most of all, it’s our sincere service we will give.”

The building’s history has its roots in the 1923 construction of the four-story Bankers Insurance Building in the triangular corner of First Street and Cotton Avenue.

The 11-story structure to its east was added later. The skyscraper was designed by W. Elliott Dunwody Jr. and completed in 1941. His grandson Eugene Cox Dunwody Jr. is the architect for Hotel Forty Five, Teixeira said.

The Loom

Teixeira described the hotel’s signature restaurant this way:

“A stunning, careful spot to linger for lunch and dinner, the restaurant was designed to have multiple mood zones for social gatherings, cozy corners for talks with friends.”

The street-level restaurant also includes space for an outdoor patio.

The menu, which is now being crafted, will incorporate as many locally-sourced ingredients as possible, Teixeira said.

The restaurant’s name was also chosen with care.

“The name signifies two things,” Teixeira said. “One is Macon’s historical link to the textile (industry) and more importantly that Macon is this beautiful quilt (of) cultural character and stories,” Teixeira said.

Hightales

“A play on the good ol’ highball cocktails and the many larger than life tales of Macon,” the hotel’s rooftop bar is where “patrons will find a welcoming warm vibrant hideaway six stories above it all,” Teixeira said.

Reckon Coffee and Wine Bar

When asked why the hotel’s coffee and wine bar was described as eclectic, Teixeira responded, “We will embrace our innermost Southerner with the coffee and wine bar.”

This gathering place in the hotel is expected to “evoke a village bohemian vibe,” he said.

Attention to detail

Great care was taken to preserve key architectural elements, finishes and furnishings of the original structure during its transformation.

“The mail delivery slot is the most interesting thing for me when walking through the hotel,” Teixeira said. “Seeing how that mail delivery was operated back then is neat to see.”

The central elevator lobby has been retained on each story. Original terrazzo floors grace the first and second stories. Marble on the first floor also has been retained.

“When you walk out of the elevators, our artwork will highlight and celebrate the people and places that make Macon so unique,” Teixeira said. “We’ll have a different person, place or thing that signifies Macon and who, what, where it came from.”

The hotel’s “liberal use of copper” is in recognition of being across from the Macon City Auditorium, which boasts a copper dome, Teixeira said.

The hotel is able to host all sorts of groups and its proximity to other event venues, such as those used for weddings, is ideal, he said.

“We will be the place where everyone wants to stay for the wedding block, the wedding brunches,” Teixeira said. “We also have a great place for corporate meetings, board retreats and social gatherings.

“We just encourage everyone and anyone to come check out this new beautiful boutique lifestyle hotel in Macon, and we welcome everyone with open arms.”

This story was originally published December 1, 2021 at 11:16 AM.