LOS ANGELES—Following an extensive renovation, the 94-room Hotel Normandie, located here in Koreatown, has unveiled new food and beverage concepts from restaurateurs Christian Page, Cedd Moses and Gary Menes.
Each is helming his respective establishment. Page offered a reinterpretation of hamburger eatery Cassell’s. Moses delivered the new The Normandie Club, which features a selection of cocktail classics. Le Comptoir, Chef Gary Menes’ culinary perspective serves classics counter-side.
“When we first walked into the hotel, we knew we had to restore it,” said Jingo Lou, the hotel’s owner and architect. “This is a true gem in the center of the city and with Christian, Cedd and Gary bringing their unique vision, style and talent to the property, I truly believe this is the new golden age of the Hotel Normandie.”
The property has undergone a multi-million dollar restoration and features new rooms and suites. A sprawling staircase, high-beam ceilings, a fountain, private library, piano and gathering spots highlight the lobby. Additionally, the hotel features a restored special events hall.
“There is nothing like the Hotel Normandie and it’s exciting to be part of the next generation as it welcomes guests from around the world,” said Page. “Like Jingbo, I have the opportunity to recreate history by opening Cassell’s and starting a new chapter; we are honoring the Cassell’s traditions while I bring my vision to the iconic name. Additionally, Cedd’s and Gary’s new projects make this one of the most exciting hotels in the city.”
Famed architects Walker & Eisen, who also designed the Fine Arts Building (1925), the Gaylord Apartments (1926), the Beverly Wilshire Hotel (1926), the Oviatt Building (1927) and the United Artists Theater (1927), built the Hotel Normandie in the 1920’s.
“When we bought the hotel, it was our goal to authentically restore it—to provide guests with a unique experience they won’t be able to duplicate anywhere else in the city,” said Lou. “We studied the original hotel as it was designed by Walker & Eisen, and then did our best to return the hotel to its original glory.”
The hotel is now open with 94 rooms, which features restored hardwood floors and art deco bathrooms, flat screen TVs, high speed Internet and an in-room coffee maker with distinctive art pieces. On the outside, the Renaissance Revival-style hotel blends seamlessly with the contemporary feel of the neighborhood and is highlighted by its neon rooftop sign, brick facade and street-level spaces.