Briarcliff Hotel, Hotel in den Vereinigten Staaten
The Briarcliff Hotel is a nine-story building at the corner of Ponce de Leon and North Highland avenues in Atlanta, designed by architect G. Lloyd Preacher in 1924. The H-shaped structure features red brick, concrete, and decorative terra cotta accents, originally built with 200 apartments that were later divided into approximately 400 rooms.
The building opened in 1924 as the 750 and initially served as a luxury residential complex for affluent residents. Following the 1929 stock market crash, it was converted into a hotel with smaller rooms at lower prices, while Asa G. Candler Jr. of the Coca-Cola family retained a private penthouse on the top floor.
The hotel served as a hub for gospel music in Atlanta, with the Statesmen Quartet maintaining offices there and musicians living on the premises. The King & Prince Restaurant inside attracted church communities and neighbors who came for its generous buffet and California-inspired dishes.
The building sits on Ponce de Leon Avenue at a central location where foot traffic passes easily. Visitors should know that the interior currently functions primarily as housing for older residents and access may be limited.
The hotel gained notoriety as a hideout for famous gangsters like Al Capone who rented suites there, reflecting a darker side of its status as an upscale accommodation. This criminal connection made it a place of dramatic history despite its respectable reputation.
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