NEWS

Two floors, 62 hotel rooms open at historic Bentley

Miranda Klein
mklein@thetowntalk.com
The bed in one of the Hotel Bentley's bridal suites on the fourth floor.

The public can book rooms at the 108-year-old iconic Hotel Bentley and spend the night there as soon as Thursday, owner Michael Jenkins announced.

Two floors, the third and fourth, with 62 rooms will be open for the time being. Renovations to the fifth floor, which has an additional 31 guest rooms will be completed next. It's a major milestone in the efforts to restore and renovate the "heart of downtown" Alexandria

"I had people tell me, 'That is such a big project, what are you doing?'" Jenkins said. "The Bentley is the heart of downtown, and for a real city to survive, there's got to be a heart to downtown."

The Hotel Bentley is accepting overnight reservations now, and two floors will be open to the public starting May 5.
The Hotel Bentley is accepting overnight reservations now, and two floors will be open to the public starting May 5.

It's no secret that the renovation process has gone on longer than expected and been full of challenges. Jenkins purchased the hotel in 2012, and the timeline for its opening has changed several times. The hotel will continue to reopen in phases with a restaurant and condominiums coming in the future, as well as the other floor's opening.

The Bentley's restaurant, which is on the bottom floor or basement, has to pass city and Department of Health & Hospitals inspections and will then be ready to serve guests. Parking logistics for the condos are still being worked through right now. More information will be released on the timeline for those, Jenkins said. He has other plans, like a gift shop and some finishing touches, to be added in the future, too.

"It's gonna come," Jenkins said. "I hope we can keep people as excited about it."

The Hotel Bentley is accepting overnight reservations now, and two floors will be open to the public starting May 5.

Anticipation has been building since the Bentley's purchase, but Jenkins said he does not plan to host a showy grand reopening as the hotel has had several in the past. Most were exclusive to a limited number of guests, and that's not something Jenkins likes the idea of.

"We opened this for the people," he said.

Jenkins said he also wanted to reopen the Bentley because Alexandria needs something that will give visitors to the area a "wow factor."

"We want people to say, 'Golly, this is in Alexandria?'" he said.

For reservations and related information, the public can call the Hotel Bentley at 318-442-2226.