A $24 million Overton Square hotel is still on track for its scheduled spring opening — though the pandemic did, at times, cause developers to have second thoughts.
Micajah Sturdivant, president of Mississippi-based MMI Hotel Group, said the 106-room Memphian, which will include 10 suites, is slated to open in April at 21 S. Cooper St. The 75,000-square-foot, boutique hotel is part of the Tribute by Marriott portfolio.
The Memphian is owned by LPI Memphis — formerly Loeb Properties Inc. — while MMI Hotel Group manages the hotel. Montgomery Martin Contractors LLC is the general contractor for the project
The hotel’s ground floor will feature Complicated Pilgrim, a 100-seat indoor/outdoor coffee shop and evening restaurant and bar. On the seventh floor will be the Tiger and Peacock, a 100-seat indoor/outdoor rooftop bar designed by GCD Interiors.
The finish line is now in sight, but a few months ago Sturdivant and his team were trying to decide if they should delay the opening.
“We were wondering where the economy and travel is going to be," he said. "We felt we could still proceed and be what we want to be for Midtown and all of Memphis."
Sturdivant said the hotel rooms will honor Overton Square in terms of imagery and will feature oversized windows. He compared the look of the rooms to that of the Central Station hotel in Downtown Memphis.
With corporate travel slowed by COVID, Sturdivant envisions the Memphian will initially be more of a place for those looking for a quick getaway trip.
“Once we open, we’re going to have a lot of staycationers,” Sturdivant said.
The Memphian will staff more than 50 employees between its hotel and food and beverage operations. In November, the Memphian named Kristopher Colig general manager and Bobbie Peppers as director of sales. Colig came to the Memphian after 18 years leading large Hyatt hotels across the country, while Peppers spent the last few years as director of sales at the Hu. Hotel on Madison Avenue, according to a November 2020 press release issued by MMI Hotel Group.
Other open positions at the hotel can be found here.
Sturdivant said he understands there could be additional COVID restrictions imposed, but he is confident any challenges will be short-lived.
“We believe there is a lot that is going to happen between now and April,” Sturdivant said. “Both personally and professionally, we want the vaccine to move out and be effective as soon as possible. The hotel is a long-term investment for us. We are big believers in Memphis and know that travel will return.”