Peek inside the renovated Gables hotel in Raleigh
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Photo: Baxter Miller
The historic Gables motor lodge in Raleigh is finally back open for guests — this time as the city's newest boutique hotel.
Why it matters: The renovated Gables, the work of singer-songwriter Tift Merritt, hotelier Daniel Robinson of The Durham hotel and designer Sarah Yarborough, revives one of the city's most historic spaces along Wake Forest Road in the Mordecai neighborhood.
Driving the news: Merritt and Robinson bought the historic motor lodge together in 2019 after the building had been vacant since 2017.
- The building dates back to the 1920s and was once a popular place to stop for those traveling on the old U.S. 1, which went from New York to Florida.
What they're saying: Merritt, who lives nearby, told Axios that she has long envisioned the space as becoming a new cultural hub for Raleigh, where both travelers and locals can gather together.
- She hopes that the hotel's lobby, bar and yard can be used for events, performances and intimate talks.
- "I think there's a worldly and bohemian side to Raleigh that is operating off stage," she said. "We'd like to set a table for that."
Zoom in: The Gables team has preserved much of the stone building, while extensively renovating the outside and adding new structures.
- The 18-room hotel features a lobby and library for gathering as well as The Alcove, an all-day cafe built inside of the hotel's original stone garage.
- The Alcove will serve everything from coffee and breakfast to charcuterie and cocktails.
- The Gables will partner with Early Bird Night Owl, a Durham-based hotel management and marketing company led by Craig Spitzer, to operate the hotel.
- Rooms are starting at $218 a night in the coming weeks.
