Macon Magazine

36 maconmagazine.com | APRIL/MAY 2022 THE HOTEL FORTY FIVE VIBE Hotel Forty Five's celebration of Macon, its history and influencers is inescapable. The name, a double entendre, is a reference to the hotel's prime location, the 45-degree angle on the iconic wedge formed by Cherry and First streets and Cotton Avenue, and a nod to Macon's storied musical past, recorded in 45 records. Norwood Smith, vice-president of sales and marketing for Mainsail, said the company delivers one-of-a-kind experiences for guests. "The new luxury means being more than an upscale hotel. People want enriching experiences. We're storytellers in an authentic way. Look around. It's clear that the design team did its research and homework," Smith said. Beaming, Teixeira said, "There's hints of Macon's past around every corner." Hotel Forty Five's lobby is a departure from the grand entrances typical of hotel chains and feels inviting, with check-in akin to an inn or guesthouse. Seating is limited to tall, tobacco-colored leather and metal chairs around a high-top table. A long, curved wall features a custom wallcovering with a grid of Macon's downtown streets and the distinctive Hotel Forty Five logo. The 94 rooms, including six suites, occupy floors 3 through 11. Rooms are spacious with a mid-century modern ambiance and sweeping views of downtown and beyond. Design elements are as disparate as a pint-size retro-style refrigerator and a large flatscreen television hung on the wall above it. Touches of copper, mirroring the City Auditorium's famed copper roof, are seen in guest room furnishings and throughout the building. Creamy white drapes reflect Macon's prolific cotton crop, one of the city's earliest economic engines with transport courtesy of the celebrated Ocmulgee River. And lest you forget you're in Macon, the large, rectangular art above the beds features an imposing face overlain on what Gene Jr. calls a "funky city map." Guest rooms have a sleek, sizable bathroom with a mix of high-end materials — octagonal shower tiles, a quartz countertop and Carrara marble floor. The hotel boasts three food venues. Spacious and serene, loom (purposefully lowercased) is the hotel's signature restaurant, serving up contemporary Southern cuisine. Another homage to Macon is the expansive black and white wall photo of two female textile workers each paused over her work on an enormous loom, one wearing a colorized green dress. There's a long bar, and walls of windows suffuse the room with light. There's a mix of seating with a few booths for intimacy. Contemporary wood furniture is topped with cushions in cool shades of soft green and caramel. Steven Brockman, executive chef at loom, called his food largely simple in prep, streamlined in execution and crafted to allow paired flavors to shine. Raised on a farm in Nebraska, he draws culinary inspiration from his grandmother, who nearly a century ago prepared meals with fresh, in-season foods native to the area, honoring the rhythm of the calendar and the abundance of her own backyard. a lobby because of the marble. Cotton Street, actually the side entrance, was the least memorable, but we added a cool overhang and drop-off space. It all worked out, plus, we met all the guidelines for historic tax credits." According to Historic Macon's Director of Field Preservation Services Matt Chalfa, "They had to prioritize preserving remaining historic elements, mitigating negative impacts to them and integrating them into the new plans." The new entry necessitated an address change and 682 Cherry St. became 401 Cotton Ave. Sadly and unexpectedly, Gene Dunwody Sr. died on Jan. 9, 2021. With construction in high gear, the project's completion was left to his grieving son who had just lost his mentor, best friend and partner, but Gene Jr. soldiered on. Now the architect of record, Gene Jr. recalled, "I was devastated. Dad was sick, but never told us. He loved this project and was here every day. They even made a hardhat for him. He would be so happy with this place. I wish he were here to see it." Amenities at Hotel Forty Five Hotel Forty Five recently opened its doors, including its restaurant, rooftop bar, coffee and wine bar and meeting rooms to guests and residents. Here's what you need to know before you go. By Mandi DeLong LOOM Loom is Hotel Forty Five's sit-down restaurant, which their website describes as a "signature, chef-driven restaurant." Customers can make reservations or requests for private dining online at loommacon.com. They're open for dinner from 5-9 p.m. daily and lunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday- Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. HIGHTALES Inspired by Macon's music scene, Hightales is Hotel Forty Five's rooftop bar on the sixth floor. While the bar is first-come, first-served for seating, interested patrons can request to rent out the bar through Hightales' website, hightalesmacon.com. RECKON COFFEE & WINE BAR Reckon has "an eclectic vibe," according to Hotel Forty Five's website. Public Relations Manager Jackie Reardon said, "It's a versatile space serving coffee in the mornings, transitioning to wine and more in the evening." Reckon is open from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. MEETING ROOMS Hotel Forty Five also has several event spaces available to be rented. They have a ballroom (capacity 80) and a boardroom (capacity 10) on the sixth floor, and can also rent out loom, reckon or the event lawn (capacity 75). Interested patrons can email jteixeira@hotelfortyfive.com to get information about pricing and reserving any of those spaces.

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