Joie de Vivre Hotels is opening its first hotel in New York City, Hotel 50 Bowery, in winter 2016. The 229-room property is located in the city's Chinatown, which the hotel will tap into through three different culinary concepts by Chef Dale Talde and his partners at Three Kings Restaurant Group. The venture was developed by Alex Chu of Chu Enterprises, and is owned by two families – one with roots in the community and the other with an international hospitality presence. Hotel 50 Bowery is managed by Commune Hotels & Resorts.
"Establishing a presence in Manhattan is a seminal moment in the expansion of Joie de Vivre Hotels," said Niki Leondakis, CEO of Commune Hotels & Resorts. “When deciding where we'd plant our first flag, Chinatown was a natural fit -- not just because it is a gateway to many Manhattan locations, but because of the neighborhood’s distinct spirit. Hotel 50 Bowery will be a vivid expression of this dynamic community and its rich history."
Hotel 50 Bowery is highly inspired by the Lower Manhattan community and culture, which can be seen through the artwork that will be displayed in guestrooms by local artists Lowell Boyers, Simone Shubuck and André Saraiva. Hotel 50 Bowery’s ties to the Chinatown community are further showcased with The Gallery, a permanent exhibit from the Museum of Chinese in America, complete with resident curator, Herb Tam, who works for the museum.
A partnership facilitated by hotel ownership, the exhibit pays homage to the destination’s past and will showcase many of the artifacts that were found on the hotel’s construction site, highlighting its colorful history – taverns, a gambling den and vaudeville and motion picture theaters all called the hotel’s location “home” from the 1700s through the early 1900s. The exhibit is adjacent to a 5,000-square-foot outdoor space, the Atlantic Garden, named after the historic beer hall that occupied the site in the 1850s. The hotel will also offer 1,900 square feet of indoor function space. The Gallery, Boardroom and five unique suites have natural light, city views and modern furnishings for meetings and events.
“As the first Joie de Vivre in Manhattan, we wanted an iconic location where guests are given a true sense of place,” said Karin Kopano, GM of the Hotel 50 Bowery. “We’ve gathered the best in the city to add design, culinary and cultural experiences that can be appreciated by both our out of town guests and discerning New Yorkers.”
The management and ownership teams appointed Wimberly Interiors to lead the design of the hotel, weaving in influences from Chinese culture and the surrounding neighborhood. Materials in the lobby, such as poured concrete and exposed brick, are punctured by Asian-influenced furniture. Guestroom corridors reflect an old Chinese village at night with large, bold artwork from Beijing-based graffiti artist Dake Wong. Upon entering rooms and suites, guests will be greeted with familiar materials like subway tiles, while being introduced to colors inspired by traditional chinaware like blue and white, which infuse the hand-plastered headboard wall.