LAFAYETTE HOTEL AND RESIDENCES BACKGROUNDER

Standing on El Cajon Boulevard with its massive colonial-style pillars, the Lafayette Hotel and Suites visually echoes its glamorous history—when Hollywood's belles made the hotel their San Diego home and prominent local gents could be seen lounging by the pool. Now, nearly 60 years after its opening, the Lafayette is once again transforming into a popular locale of style and sophistication.

When it opened on July 1, 1946, Bob Hope set the tone for the Lafayette Hotel (then named Imig Manor) by being the first guest to check in. Over the next decade, the hotel was the glamorous playground of Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, Harry James, Betty Grable, famed English Channel swimmer Florence Chadwick and many others. Celebrities could be seen dining in the hotel's restaurants and lounging around the beautiful terrazzo pool, designed by Johnny Weissmuller, "Tarzan" actor and five-time Olympic gold medal winner. Hollywood's most glamorous stars came to the hotel's fashionable Mississippi Ballroom night after night to drink, dine and dance to the music of Ted Fio Rito and other top-drawer big bands. In addition to its impressive guest list, several prominent locals were permanent residents, including clothier Bill Solof, restaurateur Ray Lubach and Padre Baseball mangers Lefty O'Doul and Bucky Harris. Larry Imig, the car salesman turned developer who described himself as the "Orson Welles of the construction world," desired every luxury to be at his guest's fingertips. The hotel's brochure boasted that this "city within a city," had on location 24 shops, four restaurants, even a dentist who showed movies on the wall to relax patients. More recently, the Lafayette Hotel served as a movie set for the feature film "Top Gun." Imig's resort hotel enjoyed unparalleled success throughout its early years.

But by 1960, Interstate 8 replaced El Cajon Boulevard as the main east-west connector of San Diego, and hotel operations ceased. The building was passed through several owners, including Conrad Hilton, until Hampstead Lafayette Partners purchased 2.6 acres in North Park, including the Lafayette Hotel, for $11.5 million in March 2004. Today, Hampstead Partners is restoring the boutique hotel All rooms have undergone renovations including: new paint, new carpet, curtains, and new linens. Also, a new bar and restaurant, The Spotlight, is calling Lafayette Hotel its new home. The Red Fox, a popular local hangout connected to the hotel, with its 16th century Tudor artifacts and piano bar, will retain all of its unique charm and sought after American cuisine.

Despite its somewhat rocky history, the Lafayette Hotel has maintained its charm while offering all the luxuries that today's traveler prefers. Hotel amenities include a healthy breakfast, a heated Olympic-size pool and spa, a fitness center and a business center—complimentary for all guests. All rooms are furnished with mini refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, hairdryers and irons. With options that span all generations and interests, rekindling a passion and relating to the kids are easy from the Lafayette Hotel. For family vacations, the hotel offers free shuttles to and from the airport, San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and Sea World. For business travelers, free high-speed internet, computer hook-ups, and two-line speaker phones with voice mail are available in room. For sweethearts on a weekend getaway, the hotel features romantic Presidential Two-Room Jacuzzi Suites with a king-size bed, a sofa sleeper in the living room, and a private, two-person jetted Jacuzzi tub. For weddings and gala events, the hotel's Mississippi Ballroom, a 5200 square-foot banquet hall, boasts of a stunning band shell, a large wood dance floor, and decorative pillars and molding, reminiscent of its glamorous history, and able to accommodate receptions of up to 250 people. From French doors opening poolside, to balconies, terraces, and lounges, the Lafayette Hotel offers elegant comfort for every type of traveler.

Although the final echoes of the big bands have died away, the Lafayette Hotel and Residences is on the brink of an exciting new era of sophistication and splendor. Indeed, the Lafayette Hotel and Suites stands at the intersection of landmark and luxury.

For more information please visit www.LafayetteHotelSD.com.