KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The former historic Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Company site in Kalamazoo will now be the site of a new location by Hard Rock Hotels.
According to an announcement by Dora Hotels Monday, the new hotel will be known as REVERB by Hard Rock. The project is a collaboration between Hard Rock, PlazaCorp Realty Advisors, and the Dora Hotel Company.
Officials say that they will work to preserve the historic parts of the property, which was originally built in 1917. It remains in Kalamazoo today, despite Gibson’s move to Nashville, Tennessee in 1984. Another company, Heritage Guitars, now operates in its place.
“PlazaCorp has a long history of redeveloping historic places and creating reimagined spaces and this project does just that,” Executive Vice President of PlazaCorp Realty Advisors Andy Wenzel said in a statement. “Our partnership with Hard Rock connects the deep music history of this site with their appreciation of exciting and creative spaces, historic music events and artifacts. This transformational project provides new jobs and investment in the neighborhood and is made possible by our local, state and federal development partnerships contributing incentive support. We look forward to sharing this redeveloped site with the community and music lovers far and wide.”
The project is expected to be finished in 2023. It will include the following features:
- Body Rock Fitness gym,
- a bar,
- brewery/restaurant,
- banquet facility,
- intimate auditorium,
- museum and “signing room” where many historic artists signed contracts with Gibson.
Other features will include curated city guides, modernized hotel amenities and room features, and increased sustainability efforts, according to officials.
“We are incredibly excited about our partnership with PlazaCorp Realty Advisors and Dora Hotel Company, allowing REVERB to expand to a prime city in Michigan,” Senior Vice President of Hotel Development at Hard Rock International Todd Hricko said in a statement. “REVERB Kalamazoo is the perfect new location for the REVERB by Hard Rock brand, with several announcements in other major U.S. cities set to be made within the year.”
This is only the latest hotel project in Kalamazoo. The Dora Hotel Company recently helped open a Hilton Garden Inn location in the downtown area.
More information on that project can be found here.
