History
The Stanhope Apartment Hotel opened in 1927 under the ownership of the 955 Fifth Avenue Corporation. It shortly passed into the ownership of Benjamin Winter, Inc. in 1928, followed by joint ownership among four banks, including the Bank of United States, in 1932. Following acquisition by Hopestand Realty Corporation, the Stanhope Hotel built a reputation for luxury and live music. The hotel's Rembrandt Room cabaret featured George Feyer from 1968–1980, and Greta Keller for several weeks each year through 1964, returning for a week's encore in 1971.
Hotel ownership changed twice in 1961, first to Webb Knapp, Inc. in August, then to the Alliance Realty Company in October. The hotel continued its reputation as home to many well-to-do New Yorkers and entertaining celebrity visitors like Ringo Starr in 1969.
Judson Realty purchased the hotel in 1980 and renamed it the American Stanhope Hotel as a statement about several major local hotels passing into foreign ownership. In 1982, Herbie Mann established the music policy at the hotel's Saratoga Room restaurant.
The hotel was acquired by New York developer Gerald Guterman's Hanover Companies for $19 million in 1986. He undertook a $26 million Louis XV-style renovation with plans to sell the 132 rooms and suites as cooperatives while running the building as a luxury hotel. When the hotel reopened following renovations, it was among the first hotels in the city to pass the room cost of $200 per night. Unfortunately, the expected profit was not realized and the Hanover subsidiary that owned the Stanhope PRE-packaged and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 1988.
The hotel was purchased by Tobishima Associates at a November 1988 bankruptcy auction for $76 million.
In 1999, the building was purchased by Hyatt and subsequently operated as the Stanhope Park Hyatt Hotel. The hotel's cabaret was revived as the Melrose Room, featuring talents including pianist Steve Ross and soprano Anna Bergman. It ceased operation as a hotel on January 13, 2005. It was converted to co-op that year and first operated as The Stanhope, later changed to 995 Fifth Avenue.
Read more about this topic: 995 Fifth Avenue
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