The Roosevelt New Orleans
| Company type | Hotel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Predecessor | The Hotel Grunewald |
| Founded | December 1893 |
| Founder | Louis Grunewald |
| Headquarters | New Orleans , United States |
Area served | New Orleans, Louisiana |
Key people | Alan Rose, Sam Friedman, Jack Guenther, Neil Freeman, Lod Cook (owners) |
| Products | Hotel rooms and suites, meeting space, restaurants, bars |
| Owner | AVR Realty Company and Dimension Development |
| Parent | Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts (management) |
| Website | www |
The Roosevelt New Orleans, situated in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a 504-room establishment owned by AVR Realty Company and Dimension Development, with management handled by Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts. The hotel originally opened in 1893 as "The Hotel Grunewald," built by German immigrant Louis Grunewald.
Hotel Grunewald
The initial Hotel Grunewald was a six-story structure containing 200 rooms, located on Baronne Street (123–135). It was erected following the destruction of Grunewald's Music Hall by fire in 1862. Designed by Milwaukee-based architect Armand Koch, the hotel commenced operations in December 1893, strategically timed to coincide with the 1894 New Orleans Mardi Gras. This timing proved beneficial, particularly after the nearby St. Charles Hotel was lost to fire shortly thereafter.
Grunewald Annex
By the turn of the century, expansion plans materialized for an Annex tower on University Place. This $2.5 million project resulted in a 14-story building with 400 rooms, which opened at midnight on January 1, 1908. The design, created by Toledano & Wogan, included a grand staircase made of Italian marble leading to a mezzanine level. The Annex introduced multiple dining and entertainment options such as the Forest Grill, The Lounge, The Fountain Grill, and notably The Cave—a themed venue featuring waterfalls, stalactites, and nightly performances reminiscent of the Ziegfeld Follies.
Following his father's passing in 1915, Theodore Grunewald assumed full ownership and maintained control until early 1923 when he sold his shares due to health concerns.
The first Roosevelt era
In 1923, Theodore Grunewald transferred ownership to a consortium led by Joseph, Felix, and Luca Vacarro. Their vision included replacing the original building with a new tower equal in height to the Annex and refurbishing the Annex’s interior, allocating approximately $500,000 primarily for renovations. On October 31, 1923, the hotel was renamed The Roosevelt Hotel to honor President Theodore Roosevelt for his involvement with the Panama Canal. A dedication ceremony took place in the Romanesque Room (currently known as the Blue Room).
The new 16-story tower on Baronne Street debuted on October 1, 1925, introducing amenities such as a barber shop, coffee shop, and retail stores facing the street. By the end of that year, the Romanesque Room had been transformed into the Venetian Room, establishing itself as a leading jazz venue. This period also marked the beginning of the hotel's signature tradition of elaborate Christmas decorations stretching along its block-long lobby.
In 1933, businessman Frank A. Dudley and United Hotels Company managed operations until December 1934 when the New Orleans Roosevelt Corporation, under Seymour Weiss, acquired ownership from the Vacarro Group. Weiss progressed from managing the barber shop to General Manager and eventually Vice President.
Significant enhancements under Weiss included removing the marble staircase to create additional mezzanine meeting space—the city’s largest ballroom—and refurbishing all guest accommodations. The Tip Top Club was converted into suites. The Venetian Room closed and was remodeled into what became known as the Blue Room, opening on December 31, 1935; it emerged as a premier music venue hosting performers like Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey. The Main Bar (now called Sazerac Bar) launched on August 1, 1938, featuring mahogany bars, walnut-paneled walls, and murals by Paul Ninas. The Fountain Lounge followed shortly after on September 1.
Weiss maintained close ties with Louisiana Governor and U.S. Senator Huey P. Long, who used a suite on the 12th floor as his New Orleans base during the 1930s. Long popularized the hotel's Ramos gin fizz cocktail and reportedly stored his political 'Deduct Box' there; today a replica is displayed in the lobby.
In 1949, Weiss secured rights from the Sazerac Company to use the "Sazerac Bar" name and opened it on Baronne Street after refurbishing a former wine-and-spirits shop. He notably ended its male-only policy during an event called Storming the Sazerac that attracted women citywide; this celebration continues annually with vintage attire and cocktails.
With completion of the Shell Building on Common Street in 1954, Weiss leased seven floors there to expand hotel capacity to 900 rooms and introduced the International Room accommodating up to 2,200 guests. A new banquet kitchen was constructed in 1955 to support all events—a role it still fulfills today.
By 1959, the Sazerac Bar name was permanently relocated from Baronne Street to its current Main Bar site.
In 1964, author Arthur Hailey spent two months at the hotel and later drew inspiration from it for his bestselling novel Hotel (1965).
Approaching retirement age, Weiss sold the property in 1965 to San Francisco’s Swig family owners of Fairmont San Francisco.
The Fairmont New Orleans
On November 19, 1965, Benjamin and Richard Swig took ownership of The Roosevelt. To facilitate a smooth changeover, they initially renamed it the Fairmont Roosevelt Hotel, later shortening it to the Fairmont Hotel New Orleans. Their first investment of $1.5 million focused on updating the hotel's aesthetics, including renovations to the Blue Room, entrances, dining areas, and the addition of new carpeting in the lobby. The Fountain Lounge was rebranded as the Rendezvous Lounge.
Subsequently, the Rendezvous Lounge was closed and transformed into the Sazerac Restaurant, which introduced formal black-tie service and tableside culinary presentations. The Sazerac Bar received upgrades with new carpeting, contemporary furnishings, and improved lighting. A storefront on Baronne Street was converted into Bailey's, a casual dining venue operating around the clock and known for its upscale menu and convenient location near local theaters. By the late 1990s, all guest accommodations underwent significant refurbishment.
The Fairmont New Orleans sustained extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, resulting in an indefinite closure. Although restoration efforts commenced, they were halted in March 2007 when repair costs were found to be much greater than originally estimated.
The second Roosevelt era
On August 24, 2007, Sam Friedman of Dimension Development Company announced the acquisition of the Fairmont from Roosevelt Ventures, LLC for $17 million. The redevelopment plan involved investing $100 million to transform the property into a Hilton Waldorf Astoria Collection hotel.
This extensive renovation preserved the hotel's historic elegance from the 1930s and 1940s while upgrading its infrastructure with modern technology. Original lobby flooring was uncovered and restored; the Sazerac Bar was returned to its classic 1940s appearance. Bailey’s space was repurposed as Domenica Restaurant, and an additional storefront became the Roosevelt Emporium gift shop. The rooftop tennis courts were removed to make way for a new pool deck equipped with a bar and kitchen amenities.
Under management by Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts, the hotel reclaimed its original name used between 1923 and 1965. The Roosevelt Hotel officially reopened on July 1, 2009, with ownership represented by Alan Rose, Sam Friedman, Jack Guenther, Neil Freeman, and Lod Cook.
The property now offers 504 guest rooms, including 125 suites, alongside more than of meeting space spread across three floors. Renovation efforts continued with ballroom and meeting area upgrades in 2018 and improvements to both rooftop pool facilities and guest rooms in 2019.
See also
References
- Milwaukee Journal, March 18, 1906