Jumeirah Essex House

October 30, 1929: Construction begins in the hotel designed by Frank Grad. The hotel was originally called Park Tower and then Seville Towers. The New York Stock market crashed and the Great Depression hits New York.
October 1, 1931: The Essex House opens! To commemorate the opening, a gala event was hosted by Albert Auwaerter, the hotel’s first General Manager, in the hotel’s Colonnades ballroom for 1000 guests in evening attire.
1932 : The six-story sign is erected to identify the hotel. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation takes the title and retains ownership for nearly 15 years.
1930’s: Sunday Brunch. An innovation at the Essex House, the stroller’s brunch, as it was called, was designed originally to attract those who were completing Sunday morning walks in Central Park. Then, as now, these elaborate meals were leisurely affairs, starting at noon and lasting until late afternoon.
1939: The New York World’s Fair opens in 1939 and rooms are filled at the Essex House
1940-1945: During World War II many of the rooms of the Essex House are set aside for military use only. The sign on top of the roof is blacked out.
1946: Samuel H. Goling, chairman of Sterling National Bank and Trust Company purchase the Essex House
1968 -1998: More ownership changes; Marriott purchases the hotel in 1969 and then Nikko Hotels takes over in 1985. January 16, 2006: Jumeirah takes over "Jumeirah" Essex House. Jumeirah Group was founded in 1997 and is a member of Dubai Holding. A 90 million dollar refurbishment program beings.
October, 2007: the hotel refurbishment is finished.
February, 2008: South Gate opens. New York’s new dining destination opens inside the Jumeirah Essex House.

Renovating Jumeirah Essex House Celebrating over 75 years of luxury on Central Park South, the Jumeirah Essex House first opened its gilded doors in 1931. This Manhattan landmark has recently completed a $90 million refurbishment program that pays homage to its classic Art Deco heritage by upgrading the guestrooms, suites, and lobby. The purpose of this program was to bring the physical property back to its original glory. As one of the city's premier Art-Deco masterpieces of the 1930s, Jumeirah Essex House selected the Atlanta-based design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates to handle the hotel's redesign on all levels. Their design approach was to respect the hotel's historically significant Art-Deco details and flourishes, upgrading the guest rooms, suites, lobby and corridors to five-star status. Rooms & Suites During our refurbishment, all guest rooms and suites were renovated. The decor throughout the rooms captures the 'glory days' of the 'Golden Age of Travel' of the 1920s and 1930s, whilst providing the very latest in comfort and technology. Guest room interior design features include plush golden carpets, deep red velvets, alligator-print leather accents, wall-to-wall wood cabinetry units offering ample desk and drawer space, rich red leather-framed mirrors, hammered nail studs on a white leather ottoman gracing the front of the beds, and window blinds featuring a leaf pattern evocative of the trees in Central Park. Guest room technology design features include HD LCD flat Panel TVs, a touch-screen control pad, custom-programmed color-changing LED fixture that you can change to create a variety of moods, and 'stumble lights' underneath nightstands. Lobby & Lobby Lounge Our newly redesigned lobby now features the Lobby Lounge, where you can enjoy a savory selection of culinary delights, including appetizers, entrée and sandwiches, in a setting of Art-Deco style and ambiance. Sumptuous white leather banquettes, tucked away in a richly-appointed burgundy-draped alcove featuring faux crystal beaded table lamps with chrome accents, reminiscent of the 1920s, make for a convivial and lounge-like environment in a lobby setting. Rich burgundy and amethyst-colored satin pillows adorn the lobby's oversized cream-colored leather sofas, and exude both comfort and design versatility.