A Swiss investor recently bought Hotel Brunswick in Kingman, Ariz., and this historic Route 66 hotel may reopen by May 2013 after remodeling, according to the corporation’s secretary.
The hotel at 313-315 E. Andy Devine Ave. closed about two years ago. Fleischmann Arizona Investment Corp., owned by Werner Fleischmann of Switzerland, bought the property in May, said corporate secretary Brenda Marker in a telephone interview Monday.
Fleischmann also bought The Antique Room building next door, at 311 E. Andy Devine Ave., known as a Chevrolet garage for many years. Marker says the front half of the building, including the facade, will be restored. She said the back half needs to be gutted and renovated because of roof damage.
Marker said the building will house a bakery, so the hotel’s guests eat breakfast in the morning. She’s also seeking two retail tenants for that space.
As for Hotel Brunswick, Marker is looking for a manager and entrepreneurs to run the building’s restaurant and bar. She wants the restaurant open for lunch and dinner daily, with “reasonable” prices so locals can enjoy dining there as well.
Marker said the hotel will reopen with 26 to 28 guest rooms, with about 10 “cowboy” rooms. She explained these are tiny rooms with one small bed. At least one of the cowboy rooms will be furnished with circa-1909 antiques.
She said the hotel building is in “good shape,” with a new ADA-compliant elevator and a new heating and cooling system as the main upcoming expenses. She estimates Fleischmann will spend about $750,000 on renovations for both buildings.
Marker wouldn’t reveal the purchase price on the buildings, but acknowledged it was less than the bank’s listing for $195,000. She noted the property went into foreclosure with $800,000 in debt.
Jim Hinckley, an author and photographer based in Kingman, has been asked to make a contribution to the hotel’s lobby. He wrote in an email:
My wife and I have been asked to create a photo exhibit of the Route 66 corridor from Chicago to Santa Monica for the lobby wall. In addition we will have the opportunity to utilize a section of the lobby to expand on my current “unofficial Route 66 visitor center.” […] With use of the Brunswick lobby I can expand on the amount of material made available, meet with larger groups, and my wife and I can provide general information about the area as well as answer questions about Route 66. The plan is to have much of this in place before Christmas.
(Photo credit: Jim Hinckley)
Andy Devine Ave….I had to hit IMDB to see what his tie to Kingman was. He grew up there. Nice that they named a street for him. I always liked him as an actor…a one-of-a-kind voice.
This is really great news! My wife and I stayed here one night around ten years ago. I think there was only one other room occupied, but the dining room was open, and we had a fine meal. The hotel had a nice European feel to it, including a little pub (bar) in the back corner of the lobby. I heard the Hotel Brunswick had closed several years ago, and subsequent ownership was unsuccessful. A real shame, but now it appears the new owner has a vision and the funds to see it through. I hope I can get back there and check it out.