Mainsail Lodging & Development have announced the historic Garner-Wallace Hotel, a character among the long history of Ponce de Leon Ave, will officially reopen as Wylie Hotel in early 2021. Built in 1929, the building has lived many lives – the first as the Garner-Wallace Hotel, which closed in 1933 as a result of the Great Depression – reopening shortly after as the 551 Ponce de Leon Hotel.
It later transitioned into its most recent use as Ponce Student Suites before falling into disrepair and beginning its journey toward becoming Wylie Hotel. Among the building’s first tenants were the original Mrs. P’s Tea Room and illustrious MJQ, residing in the hotel’s basement from 1965 to 1997. Wylie Hotel’s revival will retain the property’s legacy as a well-appointed, homelike bedstop for travelers and will feature an outdoor terrace, sunroom and restaurant – named Mrs. P’s Bar & Kitchen – paying homage to the building and community’s rich history.
Known as “The Friendly Hotel,” Wylie Hotel will welcome all, much like Atlanta - a home away from home, if you will. A landmark within the historical timeline of Atlanta, Wylie Hotel will re-emerge as a 111-room boutique hotel with bespoke, individualized room offerings. With no two rooms alike, Wylie Hotel’s distinctive space lends itself to personalized, anecdotal experiences and features two suites – Suite P and Q Suite. Pixel Design Co, an Atlanta-based design firm, is breathing life into Wylie Hotel’s revival, gathering tidbits of inspiration from the celebrated history of O4W and the building itself. The hotel will be an anchor for Atlanta travelers, offering a technology-forward stay in the city, with touch-free check-in, smart rooms and access to the hotel’s app through Intelity, allowing guests to control their experience from personal devices.
Food and Beverage:
A nod to the hotel’s previous tenants, Mrs. P’s Bar & Kitchen was inspired by the basement’s original occupant – a 1950s restaurant that emerged as Atlanta’s first openly LGBTQ-friendly bar nearly a decade later. Presenting comfortable, familiar Southern fare, Mrs. P’s Bar & Kitchen will offer a dignified but approachable take on Southern bites and drinks.
Event capabilities:
Wylie Hotel is eager to host guests for weddings, parties, full hotel buyouts and beyond - making each occasion come together seamlessly. “The Friendly Hotel” offers informal meeting spaces and overnight packages - with comfortable and accommodating rooms for each guest - alongside small events and welcome receptions in a convenient, no-commitment agreement, coordinated by a dedicated events manager. Full buyouts are available for larger parties, closing all outlets to outside visitors and allowing guests to take advantage of food and beverage concepts without COVID-19 concerns - and includes a deep clean of the hotel before and after guests’ arrival.
Wylie Hotel and Mrs. P’s Bar & Kitchen will be located at 551 Ponce de Leon Ave NE. Follow along on Instagram at@wyliehotel and @mrspsponce, and stay tuned to Wylie Hotel’s official website (wyliehotel.com) for additional news and updates.