Hotel Vogue: Historic Gulfport building being transformed

GULFPORT -- The owners of a historic building downtown are spending more than $1 million to transform it into the city's first boutique hotel, Hotel Vogue, set to open this summer on 24th Avenue.

"Let me tell you," broker and developer Felix Bertucci said, "it's going to be over the top. This will be a full-service, white-glove hotel."

Owner 24th Avenue LLC is maintaining the historic character of the building, where Teel and Ellis Salloum once had a clothing store. The main building was constructed in the mid-20th century around a building erected in 1900. The building's facade includes a unique brick screen on the second floor and a glass storefront that will be trimmed in marble. A lighted metal canopy will protect the entrance.

Retaining the building's historic character will allow developers to take advantage of any available federal and state tax credits.

The hotel's interior and furnishings

are designed to impress. The building's features give developers a lot to work with, such as arched doorways and windows, original brick walls that will be glazed and high ceilings in common areas and the rooms.

Hotel Vogue will have granite flooring and trim in a restaurant and bar that will occupy about half the first floor. A kitchen at the back of the first floor will open onto a landscaped terrace for dining. Stained-glass panels bought from a church in New Orleans will accent the restaurant and bar.

The hotel will have 16 rooms -- five on the first floor and 11 on the second floor. The rooms feature glass-block windows, arched doorways and walk-in showers. They will be accented with antique walnut doors, also acquired in New Orleans.

A one-story addition is planned on the back of the building, which will allow for a rooftop terrace with hot tub for guests. On the first floor, the addition will house restrooms, storage and a bar facing the terrace. A conference and reception room also are planned on the first floor.

Prices for the rooms have not been set.

Parking, Bertucci said, will be valet or on the street.

Bertucci said golf and fishing packages will be available for guests. Hotel Vogue also plans to host wedding receptions and hopes to be a go-to spot for honeymooners.

Bertucci, the broker for the building, said everyone kept telling him he should market it for offices. But he had a bigger vision, he said.

Kappa Development and Construction of Gulfport is completing the building renovations.

"This space in this building was too important to let it be nondescript offices," Bertucci said. "Patrons will want to keep coming back."

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 9:27 PM with the headline "Hotel Vogue: Historic Gulfport building being transformed ."