A visit to AC Hotel St. Louis-Central West End

The ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of AC Hotel St. Louis-CWE was bittersweet for the Koplar family, above middle. Koplar Properties, founded by the late Ted Koplar, partnered with Homebase Partners and Concord Hospitality Enterprises to build the $44 million ground-up structure at 215 York Avenue, between Lindell and Maryland. Construction on the 7-story building began in Fall 2019, and the 192-room AC Hotel, the first in St. Louis, opened for business on December 16, 2021.

Just before Nancy Koplar (in red jacket) cut the ribbon, she said how much Ted would have loved this moment. She was surrounded by sons Bob, left, Sam, right, and daughter-in-law Ashley (in white blouse). Others, who joined in the celebration were, from left: Concord Hospitality’s Steven Anderson and Nicole Porter, AC Hotel’s Director of Sales Angela McGaughey, the Koplar family, AC Hotel’s General Manager Candice Woodring, Concord Hospitality’s Donna Italia, former Alderwoman Heather Navarro, Joe Lehrer and CIBC’s Mark Brandom. The hotel’s staff are pictured as well.

I returned just recently for a tour of the interior with Director of Sales Angela McGaughey. AC Hotel St. Louis, a European brand that originated in Spain, has chosen “The Perfectly Precise Hotel” as its tagline, and DLR Group, the design firm responsible for the interior has faithfully followed that description.

Restful monochromatic colors and textures in unusual places are used throughout the 93,400 s.f. building. A leather sculpture covers the wall behind the reception desk, above, and a braided felt sculpture, below, covers the south wall of the Lounge area.

Amenities include a 24/7 fitness center, wi-fi thoughout, and a signature AC Hotel scent, “Between the Woods.” An AC Store, above left, stocks toiletries as well as local products including Clementine’s ice cream and Billy Goat Chips.

Notable about the 105 AC Hotels in the U.S. is that guests are encouraged to experience the culture of the neighborhood, so while the menu in the Lounge is more than adequate for breakfast, small plates and cocktails, neighborhood businesses will hopefully see an uptick in business from out-of-town visitors as well.

The Lounge also features a double-sided fireplace and plenty of comfortable seating.

There are two types of guest rooms, double-queen and king-size (some of the king-size rooms are available with a sleeper sofa). What I noticed right away is how spare and clutter-free the rooms are.  I learned that the housekeepers—known as stylists—keep surfaces purposely bare. There are no brochures, magazines or even a pad of paper in sight, which is part of the brand’s aesthetic.  Rooms are equipped with a 55″ Smart TV and a handsome bathroom with a generous shower.

 

Now that the AC Hotel St. Louis-Central West End is open, it’s fun to walk by the hotel and see the activity in the Lounge through the windows. New street lighting, sidewalk landscaping, the creation of a park on the north side of the Argyle Garage, and a green wall facing the hotel have made York Avenue much more welcoming and inviting. I’ll post about those improvements soon.

AC Hotel St. Louis-Central West End, 215 York Ave. Rates vary according to day of the week and season.