Following the purchase of the historic boutique hotel, The Frenchmen Hotel (417 Frenchmen St., New Orleans, LA 70116) in June 2021, the hospitality company of award-winning entrepreneur Robert Thompson, Angevin & Co., in partnership with GBX Group which specializes in the preservation and exploitation of historic real estate in urban markets, finalized the acquisition of another flagship destination, the Whitney Hotel (610 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130). Thompson bought the property from renowned New Orleans hotelier Joe Jaeger. Tyler Robinson of Urban Properties represented Angevin & Co. in connection with the transaction.
Originally from the South, Thompson and his family moved to New Orleans in early 2021 due to both his love for Crescent City and his ambition to join its unrivaled hospitality industry. With the Whitney Hotel, located in New Orleans’ Central Business District (CBD), and the Frenchmen Hotel on iconic Frenchmen Street, Thompson’s Angevin & Co. has established gateways to the French Quarter at either end. .
“It is a privilege to honor the heritage of the Whitney Hotel by preserving its history while reimagining its future,” said Thompson, Founder and CEO of Angevin & Co. “Located on the historic streetcar line and just a few blocks from the French Quarter and Caesar’s Superdome, The Whitney is ideally located for travelers to the city for leisure, business or for sports and events as well as for New Orleanians living and working in the neighborhoods chic, “says Thompson.” We will bring new energy to this legendary property, reinventing experiences. This means opening the first on-site restaurant in the property’s history – a southern restaurant at the forefront of vegetables – as well as a thoughtful cocktail bar that goes from afternoon happy hour to late night last calls; and a fresh and fragrant flower shop. We envision the Whitney as more than a single end Where to stay, it will be a place you will never want to leave.
“When Robert expressed his vision for the Whitney Hotel, I knew the property would be in good hands with Angevin & Co.,” says Joe Jaeger, owner of New Orleans’ largest hotel group, J Collection. “Robert looks at both The Whitney and the city with fresh eyes, and the ideas he puts forward will have a positive and lasting impact on the hospitality and tourism industry in New Orleans.”
“The current climate favors new construction,” explains Drew Sparacia, president and CEO of GBX. “But it’s not always the best choice, especially when developing in urban neighborhoods. These are often older communities with existing properties that provide significant cultural value to their surroundings. Partnering with Robert and Angevin & Co., innovative and accomplished operators, is an exciting endeavor that makes the Whitney Hotel a redesigned and vibrant destination within the New Orleans community. We are proud to play a pivotal role in the preservation of the Whitney Hotel as we expand our involvement in the protection of historic structures throughout New Orleans.
In sharp contrast to the high-rise office buildings in the CBD, the Whitney Hotel building was originally built as a bank. Now listed as a National Historic Landmark, the Whitney Hotel has 93 rooms, 24 suites, and soaring 30-foot ceilings in the lobby, complemented by historic crown moldings throughout the hotel. Thompson’s Angevin & Co., in conjunction with design partners FAM Design, will preserve the historic integrity of the building while carrying out top-to-bottom renovations and updates.
The Whitney Hotel is set to reopen in the first quarter of 2023.
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