Central Hotel
Central Hotel, which shines with 19th-century splendor in this aged
photo, stood as one of the longest operating hotels in Charlotte.
It opened its doors in 1849 and shut them in 1931, when it was
reinvented as the Albert Hotel.
Originally coined as the Mansion House, the hotel had been partially
rebuilt and given its longstanding moniker, the Central Hotel, by the
early 1870s. By this time, the Central Hotel's ballroom and adjacent
bar had become Charlotte's most elegant cocktail lounge and dining
room. Consequently, the hotel was renowned as one of the largest
(and arguably finest) between Richmond, Virginia, and Atlanta,
Georgia.
Advertising slogans boasted both the hotel's charm—"Pleases
people all the time"—and its luxurious amenities—"Good rooms,
good beds, good tables, [and] electric fans in the dining room."
And the hype rang true. Artfully decorated gas-lit chandeliers, brass
cuspidors, ornate wallpaper and wainscoting adorned the hotel's
lobby and main floor, and well-appointed rooms were stocked with
fresh bath water, which could be requested piping hot.
Central Hotel once took stature at 7 South St.—what is today part
of the 100 block of South Tryon Street.
RETRO charlotte
By Abby Blanton
charlottesgotalot.com 51