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Apr 4, 2024 | Hotel News

Hotel Pontotoc to Transform from Old Haunt to New Spirit with Ground-Floor Restaurant

Downtown Memphis’ historic hotel is set to undergo a major facelift, including a new upscale eatery.

Steeped in history and rumored to be haunted, the iconic Hotel Pontotoc, a downtown Memphis landmark built in 1906, is set to undergo a transformative revival.

Purchased by partners Tony Kuhn and Joseph Lewis in 2022, this iconic gem has secured a $60,000 Exterior Improvement Grant from the Downtown Memphis Commission, contributing to its estimated $2 million renovation. “Long story short, we have an opportunity to take it back to its roots,” Lewis told Memphis Business Journal.

Throughout its 118-year history at 69 East Pontotoc Ave, this storied building has transformed from a hotel featuring a Turkish bath to a recording studio, nightclub, and even a private residence. Now, the historic landmark is poised for a vibrant renaissance.

This column appeared in What Now Memphis.