Downtown Baton Rouge’s newest hotel, The Watermark, could be open by late August or early September, a hotel executive told the roughly 60 people at this morning’s Downtown Development District meeting.
Jay Haratsis, regional general manager for Wampold Hospitality Collection, says company is pushing hard to meet that deadline to open the 144-room Marriott Autograph Hotel. Developed by Mike Wampold, the hotel is at 150 Third St. in the old Louisiana National Bank building. The Marriott Autograph Hotel collection is the independent brand of the Marriott hotel line.
“It’s going to be a fun place,” Haratsis said.
Of the 144 rooms, 135 will offer king and queen beds; the other nine will be suites. The rooms will range from 300 to 450 square feet and feature complimentary internet, LCD flat screen TVs and a desk. The hotel will also offer 2,000 total square feet of meeting space, including a 1,000-square-foot ballroom.
The hotel will feature two restaurants: The Gregory and Milford’s on Third.
The Gregory will be a 130-seat full-scale restaurant that serves up traditional Louisiana cuisine with a twist. The main dining area will offer seating for 70; an exhibition kitchen will seat 14. The restaurant is named for the eight Angela Gregory murals that adorn the walls of the restaurant.
Milford’s on Third will be a kosher-style deli serving recipes from Milford’s Super Grocery, the store started by Wampold’s grandfather in Alexandria years ago. The deli will front Main Street, next to the hotel’s entrance.
“We’re really excited to bring some of Louisiana to the Autograph collection and to make it our own and celebrate the culture and area we’re in,” said Allison Crump, sales director for Wampold Hospitality Collection.
Wampold owns about 600 parking spaces downtown and Haratsis says they will be using those lots for The Watermark.
Also this morning, a representative of Commercial Properties Realty Trust said The Onyx Residences mixed-use development is also tentatively scheduled to open in early September. The $7 million, five-story building on 161 Third St. will comprise 26 one- and two-bedroom apartments and 3,000 square feet of commercial space. Tenants include IberiaBank and Regal Nails. The apartment building sits adjacent to The Watermark.
“Our whole corner is going to be a lot of fun,” said Kristin Diehl, who handles leasing inquiries with CRPT.
—Ryan Broussard
