Building an Empire, part 1: Hotel restoration work set to begin soon
Published 12:10 am Saturday, August 19, 2023
Renderings of hotel rooms. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Current state of Montgomery Ward and hotel section. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original hotel façade and sign. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
One of the bay windows that will be painstakingly restored. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
View of the 12 foot windows that will be a focal point for the end-unit, that will come with its own elevator. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
View of the section that will become a private greenspace to be used by the rowhome residents. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
An original window that will become a doorway to one of the rowhomes. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Looking at Phase 1 section of Empire Row, where the original brick will be restored and windows brought back to their original locations. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Josh explaining the restoration of Phase 1, known as Empire Row, which will create five meticulously restored two-story rowhomes. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Josh and Brett looking at Phase 1 of the Empire Row. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Looking down hallway of the original hotel section, to be preserved in Phase 2. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Staircase of hotel. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original 1907 staircase leading to the 3rd floor of the hotel. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
One of the original hotel rooms. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
One of the shared bathrooms in the hotel. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
One of the original skylights in the hotel section. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Example of the various centuries of paint colors and wallpapers used throughout. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
One of the bay windows that will be painstakingly restored. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Josh Barnhardt peels back layers of history with many rooms having 3-4 types of wallpaper and paint colors….most of which have not been touched in over 70 years. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Josh Barnhardt looks at one of the bay windows that will be painstakingly restored. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original hotel rooms that shared commons spaces and bathrooms. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Example of the various centuries of paint colors and wallpapers used throughout. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Example of the various centuries of paint colors and wallpapers used throughout. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original windows — hundreds to be repaired/preserved. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Hotel medicine cabinet. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Hotel sink. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Brett Krueger highlights the dozens of various types of wallpapers that are found throughout, many of which will be recreated to provide an original touch. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
One of many original windows that will be restored. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
One of dozens of original clawfoot bathtubs throughout the property. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
The original grand ballroom can be seen peaking out above with its grand woodwork. Apartments were built inside the ballroom in the 1940s, and will be removed to restore the ballroom to its original grandeur. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
One of the many preserved doors to be resused in the restoration. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
One of the many examples of unique bath fixtures in the hotel section. These little niches inside the hotel room will be restored into small coffee bars in each room. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Example artwork that would be used for the hotel. These were postcards from the turn of the century (from Clyde’s collection) that have been turned into artwork. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Area that was tested to sand/stain the original floors. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original 1855 millwork/baseboard from the hotel section. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
One of many examples of horsehair plaster that will be restored. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original 1855 staircase in the hotel. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Josh stands under an arch from the original 1855 section of the hotel. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original 1907 elevator in the hotel lobby. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original hotel lobby that will be renovated into the future boutique hotel lobby. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Historical pictures of the original hotel. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Historical pictures of the original hotel. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
After removing two modern ceilings, the team discovered the original 1907 tin ceilings that have been perfectly preserved and that will be re-used in the hotel lobby. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Brett placing the finishing touches on the example artwork that would be used for the hotel. These were postcards from the turn of the century (from Clyde’s collection) that have been turned into artwork. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original 1930s radiator from Montgomery Ward section. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
View of third floor original storeroom of Montgomery Ward. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
View of third floor original storeroom of Montgomery Ward. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Earthquake bolts, helping support part of original 1855 hotel section. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
View of third floor original storeroom of Montgomery Ward. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
View of third floor original storeroom of Montgomery Ward. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original 1930s door to third floor showroom of former Montgomery Ward. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original 1930s door to third floor showroom of former Montgomery Ward. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original staircase in Montgomery Ward, to be preserved and used for apartment tenants. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
The steeple of First United Methodist Church is seen through a broken window pane. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original Montgomery Ward bathroom. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original door in the Montgomery Ward bathroom. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Original toilet from Montgomery Ward bathroom. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Second floor of Montgomery Ward section will be apartments. This is the original floor. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Second floor of Montgomery Ward section will be apartments. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Second Floor of Montgomery Ward section will be apartments. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Windows overlooking South Main Street, second floor of Montgomery Ward section that will be apartments. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Montgomery Ward original lighting, to be preserved for use in future steakhouse. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Area leading to future apartments in Montgomery Ward section. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Montgomery Ward main dining area for future steakhouse. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Brett Krueger reviews rendering of example artwork in the steakhouse. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Josh Barnhardt, left, and Brett Krueger in the Montgomery Ward section. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
Montgomery Ward staircase, area that will become steakhouse with upper mezzanine private dining. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.
This is part one of a two-part series.
Developers Brett Krueger and Josh Barnhardt both have a long history of successful projects. Add in architect Eddie Belk, and their knowledge of renovating old buildings is formidable. Krueger and Barnhardt announced last week that Phase 1 of the Empire renovation will start in the fall. Barnhardt said, “The plans have been ready for the whole building, and now the financing is in place for phase 1.”
Phase 1 will include five rowhomes facing Bank Street, one grand apartment overlooking Main Street and a corner retail space. This is part of the Efird Store section that was built in 1906. This portion of the building is structurally sound, has a new roof and is ready to go.
The rowhomes will each be a two-story walkup unit of 2,200 square feet with three bedrooms, 2½ baths and outdoor amenity space in the rear of each unit. Currently, Krueger and Barnhardt are entering into an agreement with Downtown Salisbury Incorporated to purchase the section of the Empire that will become the rowhomes.
Phase 2 won’t be far behind. Set for this portion of the project are three retail spaces on ground level, 17 apartments on the first and third floors, 25 boutique hotel rooms on the second floor and the Grand Ballroom. This portion of the Empire building was built in the mid-1840s and 1906. Recent documents verify that the oldest portion was constructed in the 1840s instead of the 1850s as previously thought. That portion was in use 15 years before the start of the Civil War in 1861. The hotel will include a spa, fitness center and various common spaces.
All 17 apartments in this section will be available on the first and third floor. Apartments will be one and two bedrooms, with reserved parking, secure access, courtyard space and a fitness room. The Grand Ballroom’s original high ceiling will be open and exposed, and the entire room will be available for rental event space. Kreuger said, “This ballroom is one of most historic on the east coast and we want to showcase it.” Most recently, the ballroom was filled with small hotel units serving World War II veterans who needed housing after their return to civilian life. These units will be removed.
Phase 3 to follow later involves the reclamation of the Montgomery Ward portion of the building which was added in 1938 and last closed in 1963. Krueger and Barnhardt plan a steakhouse on the ground floor and have a verbal agreement with Epic Steakhouse while terms are being discussed. Seating would be on the ground floor with an overflow area on a mezzanine. Twenty more apartments will use the second and third floors, all with the same amenities in Phase 2. A basement will be used for a spa and meeting space.
The total project is over 100,000 square feet and is budgeted for $22 million in costs. Downtown Salisbury owns the Empire building.
