Old Hotel to Begin a New Life

When Los Angeles’ “newest downtown hotel” opened in December of 1927, it was hailed as “another Mayflower landing.”

The 12-story, steel-reinforced Class-A Mayflower Hotel was described as overlooking the “verdantly green Library Park with its new $3-million library building” at Grand Avenue and 5th Street and as having a choice location across from the Biltmore Hotel.

Today, the landmark structure at 535 S. Grand Avenue, built by William H. Anderson and originally operated by Charles De Long on property leased for 99 years, has been extensively renovated and will reopen in mid-March as the new Checkers Hotel.

Checkers is a joint development of Ayala Hotels Inc., a division of Ayala International of Hong Kong, headed by William F. Wilkinson, and Treptow Development Co., a Houston-based diversified real estate firm.

Charles F. Whittlesey, who designed the original building, had a challenge in terms of light and air courts in working out something worthwhile on a lot that was only 60 feet wide and 160 feet deep.

On the exterior, the structure retains its “Spanish Moorish design” with cornices, stylized gargoyles done in sandstone and two carved ships, embedded on the sides of the main entrance, depicting the Mayflower which brought the Pilgrims in 1620, and Columbus’ Santa Maria.

The structure originally had 348 rooms (now reduced to 190 suites), each with a private bath; room rates ranged from $2.50 to a whopping $7.50 a night. In the 1950s, it was part of the Hilton hotel chain.

The Mayflower later was owned and operated by William and Monte Mallet until it closed in 1985. The building was sold and its gradual transformation into the European-style luxury Checkers Hotel was started.

More than $49 million and four years of work have been spent on the hotel building. The interior has been completely changed. Two floors were added on top of the building to house the physical plant, as well as a health spa for hotel guests, in addition to a Checkers Restaurant and adjacent Checkers Bar off the main lobby.

The guest rooms have been enlarged and turned into luxury accommodations that range from one- or two-bedroom suites with marble bathrooms, to two luxury penthouses, each with fireplace, living room, bedroom and dining area.

A library/lounge and four board rooms on the mezzanine are available for business meetings or private dining.

The hotel has a concierge as well as 24-hour room, maid and valet service, and its room rates are $190 for suites to $850 and $975 for the penthouse units.

The new facility will be operated by Ayala Hotels Inc., of which William F. Wilkinson is president. Ayala also operates Campton Place Hotel off Union Square in San Francisco.

Charlene Nagel, former general manager of the Santa Barbara Biltmore, was appointed general manager for the Checkers Hotel, and Patrick C. Willis, previously with Hyatt Hotels and more recently corporate food and beverage director for Rosewood Hotels, is the hotel manager.

Holtsmark Architects of San Francisco is the project architect and Kaplan/McLaughlin/Diaz of Los Angeles is associated architect. The latter has been involved in the restoration of 13 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

Prime contractor is Nishimatsu Construction and the general contractor is Linbeck Construction Corp.