Heathman Hotel

Construction, heyday, and decline The original Heathman Hotel in Portland OR, one block away from the current structure, was built at the intersection of Park and Salmon streets in 1926 by George Heathman, at a cost of $1 million. Wealthy lumber barons and railroad magnates, politicians, and upper-class investors of the day wanted a hotel that would fit their social station and demand for comfort and excellence. It stood 11 stories tall and offered 300 rooms. Because of the success of the first hotel, Heathman immediately started work on a sister hotel a block away. The New Heathman Hotel was completed in 1927. It was a 10-story concrete structure faced with brick. The decorative details were designed in the Jacobean Revival style by the Portland architectural firm of DeYoung and Roald. The second story and upper-floor windows were trimmed in stone, and the lobby's dark-hued paneling extended to the mezzanine, where light flooded through tall, arched windows. Acanthus leaves decorated the mezzanine's plaster columns and ceiling trim. The hotel's entrance was on the Salmon Street side The building of the New Heathman was Portland's largest construction project to that date, employing 1,200 workers, all of whom were invited to celebrate at the pre-opening party. A formal opening occurred on December 17, 1927, marking the end of seven months of work. When the New Heathman was ready, Governor I. L. Patterson and Mayor George Luis Baker made dedication speeches. Radio station KOIN featured live band and orchestral pieces. Portland city commissioners joined with the business community to pay tribute. The Oregon Journal described the Heathman as "Portland's newest and most modern hotel" Large, boldly colored marquee lights surrounded the hotel. On the eve of construction, Heathman announced plans to put in a ground floor coffee shop that was designed to be the largest coffee shop in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. KOIN moved from the old Heathman to the new Heathman on December 17, 1927. On September 22, 1932, KOIN acquired a sister station, KALE. KALE moved into the KOIN studio complex in 1933. With an additional station, more studio space was needed. Between 1933 and 1939, the mezzanine of the New Heathman was modified several times to accommodate the stations. The biggest change was the addition of the north–south wall and several dividing partitions to create offices along the east side of the building. Studio A and Studio B at the south end were also altered. By 1940 the major structural changes were finished. The studios were then described as "the finest broadcast facility in the country." Local restaurant chain McCormick & Schmick's took over management of the Heathman's restaurant; Rim announced it would adopt the "Heathman" name for its line of upscale, boutique hotels. The purchase price was reported as being "in the neighborhood" of $25 million. LaSalle Hotel Properties bought the Heathman in December 2014 for $64.3 million. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust purchased the Heathman Hotel November 30, 2018 and brought Provenance Hotels to manage it. Soon thereafter, the hotel underwent a complete hotel renovation aspiring to introduce a semi-formal, luxury, travel experience authentic to Portland, OR. The total cost of renovation was approximately $20 million. In February 2023, The Heathman was purchased by Aparium Hotel Group. ==Hotel amenities==

Under new ownership, the restaurant and many amenities (i.e. daily housekeeping) have returned in June 2023. The entrance also features a bronze sculpture of Zelda, an English bulldog from Portland, who is also dressed in a Beefeater costume. The sculpture, which includes a dog bowl filled with fresh water, was donated by Banfield Pet Hospital in 2010, and depicts the star of the "Zelda Wisdom" line of greeting cards. In 2011, Food & Wine listed the Heathman as one of the 21 most haunted restaurants and hotels in America. ;Support of the arts The Heathman acquired several original artworks at the time of the 1980s remodel and launched a campaign of support for the visual arts. The hotel's collection has included 250 original paintings, photographs, and works on paper, with a focus on American artists, and particularly artists local to the Northwestern United States. Restaurant The Heathman Restaurant & Bar was run by Houston, Texas-based Landry's, Inc. It was known for French-influenced Pacific Northwest cuisine, and was considered one of Portland's top restaurants, earning four stars from the Forbes Travel Guide in 2014. In 2003, while the restaurant was under McCormick & Schmick's management, Anthony Bourdain reported in The New York Times on a special all-offal menu at the Heathman created in his honor. In 2016 the restaurant was reopened as Headwaters at the Heathman, or simply Headwaters, after a 6-month renovation. Run by chef Vitaly Paley, Headwaters specializes in seafood and Pacific Northwest cuisine. In late March 2020, The Heathman Hotel, along with many other Portland hotels decided to pause operations in order to help stop the spread of COVID 19. As a result, Paley Hospitality moved to terminate operations of most Portland restaurant outlets, including Headwaters at the Heathman Hotel. The pandemic worsened through summer and travel to Portland did not resume to typical levels. The closure was extended into October 2020 as management reorganized and prepared to introduce health, sanitation and safety requirements expected by travelers. Following post covid recovery, Headwaters at the Heathman has since reopened to the public. == Reception ==

The hotel placed second in the Best Hotel category of Willamette Week annual 'Best of Portland' readers' poll in 2025. ==References==