The Mercer Hotel

The Mercer Hotel, located at the corner of Mercer and Prince Streets in SoHo, Manhattan, New York City, was the second acquisition in the luxury collection of André Balazs hotels.[1] It offers 75 guest rooms on six floors of a Romanesque revival building.[1]

The Mercer Hotel
Location within New York
General information
Architectural style	Romanesque Revival
Location	147 Mercer Street, SoHo, New York City
Coordinates	40°43′29″N 73°59′54″W
Completed	1890
Owner	André Balazs Properties
Governing body	private
Design and construction
Architect	William Schickel

Opening in 1997, The Mercer is the sister hotel to Hollywood's Chateau Marmont.

History

Built in 1890 for John Jacob Astor II, the six-story, 84,000 square foot brick building has been cited by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission as an example of the Romanesque Revival period.[2] Architect William Schickel, known for his extensive work on behalf of the Archdiocese of New York, designed the building as offices for the vast Astor family holdings, resulting in a façade considerably more ornate than its industrial neighbors.[3][4][5] Prior to its conversion, the building served as artists' lofts and studios, for which the hotel has now become known.[6]

Design

The overall aesthetic allows The Mercer to be "the first hotel to offer an authentic taste of loft living", an urban signature that is completely original to New York.[7]

Parisian designer Christian Liaigre ensured all furnishings were kept original and exclusive to the hotel. Liaigre created a modernist interior with an emphasis on harmonized proportions and subtle color palettes.[2]

The Mercer Kitchen

In 1998, The Mercer Kitchen opened as a 170-seat restaurant located over two levels of The Mercer hotel.[8] Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten was recruited by André Balazs as the head of restaurant and food service for the property.

The Mercer Kitchen, adjacent to the hotel lobby, has a 40-seat street-level café. The lower level features a 160-seat main dining room that lies beneath the streets of SoHo.[9] The restaurant features an open kitchen for guests to watch the preparation of their meals. Upstairs, the casual café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.[8]

The Mercer Kitchen provides room service throughout the hotel while the upper level café serves breakfast and lunch daily.

References

1. Nota Bene Destination Review, The Mercer
2. Menkes, Suzy (March 31, 1998). "Zen and the art of hotel serenity: loft life at SoHo's Mercer". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
3. Angelica, Taschen. "The Mercer". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
4. White, Norval; Willensky, Elliot; Leadon, Fran (2010). AIA Guide to New York City (5th ed.). Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-19-538385-0.
5. Searing, Helen, ed. (1982). In Search of ModernArchitecture: A Tribute to Henry-Russell Hitchcock. Architectural History Foundation/MIT Press series. 6. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. pp. 155–56. ISBN 978-0-262-19209-5.
6. Ypma, Herbert. "The Mercer". Hip Hotels New York.
7. "The Mercer". Retrieved June 6, 2014.
8. "(The Mercer) Kitchen". Retrieved December 17, 2012.
9. "(The Mercer) Kitchen". Jean-Georges Management. Retrieved December 17, 2012.

External links

• Official website