LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The next 11 days are going to be a whirlwind for a new hotel in downtown Little Rock.
Situated at Capitol and Louisiana in downtown Little Rock, the all new AC Hotel opens February 18, offering something for out-of-towners and locals alike.
"We want to be a great partner for Little Rock," said Josh Castle, general manager of the AC Hotel. "We want to help be a part of the revitalization of the downtown area and not just Main Street, not just the river district. This was the original financial district for Little Rock and we want to help bring that back to life.
The hotel is made up of the Hall and Davidson buildings. The Hall building was built in 1923 and the Davidson annex was added in 1947. Both buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Following a two-year restoration project, many of their original features remain.
"All of the fine detail work and the stone work up on the building has been restored," Castle said.
And inside, you'll find original marble walls, the brass mail chute, and penny tile. It's something that's common in older buildings, like the bathhouses in Hot Springs.
The European-inspired hotel boasts local flavor throughout -- from photography in the guest rooms to drinks in the lounge.
"We took a lot of time to develop some craft cocktails of our own and we partnered up with Rock Town Distillery to do that," explained Michael Skeen, assistant general manager of the AC Hotel.
Along with those drinks, tapas-style dishes, coffee, and space for co-working, Skeen said the hotel is an open space, not only for guests, but for the public in Little Rock.
The hotel will create 48 new jobs and the owners estimate it will generate more than half a million dollars in annual tax revenue.