Barlum Hotel

03 / The story of this place

What was here?

Developer John J. Barlum built it on the site of the Burns Hotel as part of his plan to turn Cadillac Square into an office and hotel center. Designed by Bonnah & Chaffee, it opened on February 12, 1927, with 810 outside rooms and a two-story Venetian lobby. The city took it for back taxes in 1941 and closed it, but it reopened in March 1943 and became known as one of America's last theatrical hotels, home to touring road shows, ballets and symphonies. Henry Keywell remodeled it as the Henrose in 1958–59, and after a Teamsters pension-fund loan went unpaid it briefly ran as the Embassy. A Boston syndicate bought it on November 4, 1966, and turned it into 221 apartments that opened in April 1967.

• 810 rooms, opened February 12, 1927
• One of America's last theatrical hotels
• Apartments since April 1967

Former names

Barlum Hotel (1927–1958) · Henrose Hotel (1958–1964) · Embassy Hotel (1964–1966)

Architect

Bonnah & Chaffee

What’s there now?

The New Cadillac Square Apartments, still in the original terra cotta tower.