Originally known as The Pantlind Hotel (founded in 1913), the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel reopened in 1981 after extensive renovations done by Marvin DeWinter & Associates, including the addition of a 29-story glass tower. The Pantlind's designers Warren & Wetmore were inspired by the work of the Scottish neoclassical architect Robert Adam. During its prime years, the hotel was consistently rated as one of the top ten hotels in the US.[citation needed]
In the early 1900s, Grand Rapids was growing rapidly, the population reaching over 112,000 in 1910. As the city grew, iconic grand scale buildings began to arise.[3]
When the hotel opened in 1913, the Beaux-Arts architecture attracted many, with visitors convening in Grand Rapids choosing the Pantlind Hotel during the city's furniture shows.[4] The Pantlind featured one of the largest gold leaf ceilings in the world,[5] with the hotel having a Mediterranean atmosphere that was seen in its classical columns and terra cotta designs.[3] A two-story bank was also originally located on the corner of Monroe and Pearl.[3]
Ten years later in 1923, a 189-room addition was made to the hotel on Lyon Street.[6] By 1925, the Pantlind Hotel was gaining national recognition after it was named as one of America's top 10 hotels.[4]
The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel Tower, originally the Pantlind Hotel, is a 29-story, 318 foot tall tower that opened in 1983. The tower was constructed following a renovation project of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel initiated by Rich DeVos.[4]
In the 1970s, the suburbs of Grand Rapids, such as Wyoming, enjoyed a great retail environment with many new developments happening along the 28th Street corridor.[4] In 1979 after many turned towards the suburbs, the Pantlind Hotel was purchased by Amway, with Amway funding a $60 million renovation project[4][8] that was described by The New York Times as being "extensive".[9]
On September 15, 1981, the renovated Pantlind Hotel, now known as Amway Grand Plaza Hotel opened.[4] The reopening of the hotel was presided over by President Gerald R. Ford and his wife Betty Ford during a formal black-tie gathering.[4][9] Two years later in 1983, the 29 story tower was finally completed, becoming the city's tallest building after surpassing the McKay Tower, holding the title of tallest building in Grand Rapids until Plaza Towers was completed in 1991.
In 1985, two years after the tower was constructed, Jack Schnedler of the Chicago Sun-Times stated:[10]
Amway Grand Plaza: Here's a world-class hotel plunked in the middle of Michigan, occupying the opulently restored shell of the old Pantlind Hotel and a sleek 29-story adjoining wing. Service during my April stay was small-town cheerful, the room was richly furnished, and dinner in the top-of-the-line Cygnus restaurant stood up to New York or San Francisco standards.
In 2014, the tower underwent a $14 million renovation that included updating electrical outlets and network connections, as well as giving the room and bathroom designs a more modern look. It was the sixth renovation to rooms in the tower since 1983.[11]
Starting in 2011, the hotel started an effort to rebrand first with replacing the 1913 Room restaurant with a Ruth's Chris Steak House. In May 2015, Cygnus 27 restaurant had changed its menu to a Latin one. The Cornucopia and Bentham's restaurants were redone as Wolfgang Puck restaurants opening the fall of 2015. Prior to 2016, the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel was affiliated with the Preferred Hotels & Resorts reservation system. In 2016, the hotel became a part of the Curio Collection by Hilton reservation system.[1]
Amway stated in August 2018 that renovations to the tower would begin in January 2019 and would be scheduled to finish in April 2021. Changes include modernizing the function and appearance by making windows lighter colored which will span from floor to ceiling. The height of the tower will also increase slightly as a result of new construction.[12]
Otto Seyferth, the 23rd President of the United States Chamber of Commerce, performed stone carving work on the facade of the hotel during its construction, earning 65¢ per hour.[13]
In honor of U.S. President Ford, one of the ballrooms in the hotel is named after him.
Until September 2008, The Rapid ran the Grand Rapids Air Porter - a shuttle between the hotels in downtown Grand Rapids and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Routes 9 Alpine, Route 11 Plainfield, and two DASH routes stop near the hotel.
WZZM-TV 13 originally had its studios at the Pantlind until a new facility was built and completed in Walker, Michigan.
.jpg)
