Wylie Hotel this week announced it is set to open its Old Fourth Ward doors in May and an exact first day is forthcoming.
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The boutique hotel, which hopes to feel “neighborly,” also unveiled key members of its opening team.
General Manager James Green III and Culinary Director Ewart Wardhaugh join Liz Young, director of sales, to spearhead the hotel’s operations, management, and food and beverage program.
“I am excited to join Wylie Hotel’s team,” Green said in a prepared statement. “We’re looking forward to hosting the neighborhood, whether they’re staying with us, dining with a friend, or enjoying the terrace for coffee and a pastry before work.”
Wardhaugh will lead the charge as culinary director — alongside his position as Executive Chef of Epicurean Atlanta — and will work to conceptualize menus, incorporate seasonal changes and provide ongoing consultation for the hotel.
His creative direction can be seen throughout Mrs. P’s Bar & Kitchen, a Southern-inspired restaurant outfitted with banquettes, a lively sunroom, and an inviting outdoor terrace.
Partners Kim King Associates and Mainsail Lodging & Development come together to revive the former 551 Ponce de Leon Hotel. Kim King Associates purchased the building in 2019 after “years of falling apart” and worked in tandem with Francis “Butch” Ross with Ross Hotel Partners to engage Mainsail Lodging & Development to oversee the hotel’s management.
“With Old Fourth Ward being one of Atlanta’s most historic neighborhoods, we are excited to preserve the history of the surrounding community, while bringing new life into the building,” Beau King, CEO of Kim King Associates, said. “Once the opportunity presented itself, our team knew this property would be something special, and we can’t wait to show the incredible work done to such a memorable place.”
The hotel’s renovations are being led by the partnership of local architect Stevens & Wilkinson and Atlanta-based interior design firm Pixel Design Co.
Wylie Hotel will incorporate tidbits of inspiration from the building’s history with modern upgrades, including bar-centric dining concepts and technology-forward stays. The hotel will re-emerge as a 111-room boutique hotel, offering individualized, distinctive spaces unique to each guest.