Photo courtesy Gabby Usinger/Egyptian
It’s safe to say what’s old is new again – bell bottoms are making a big comeback and retro-cool restaurants are springing up across the country.
The Valley is no exception to this vintage revival, with the arrival (or rather reincarnation) of a hip hotel in the heart of the Grand Avenue Arts District.
The Egyptian Motor Hotel has sat on historic Grand Ave for the better part of 70 years. Now, it’s being resurrected and will welcome guests as soon as this spring. The original Egyptian was built in the early 1950s, and its neon sign, ancient Egypt theme and open-air concept were all the rage at the time. It was important to the hotel developer to maintain these mainstays while also updating it for the modern era.
The new Egyptian will be a hospitality hub, complete with an outdoor bar and entertainment venue, water features and firepits, and the first brick-and-mortar location of Chilte, a popular Mexican street food pop-up.
The property’s flagship eatery will feature fresh, innovative menu items such as a mole flight and elote cheesecake. “At Chilte, food serves as a source of connection to each other and our communities. It’s a universal language that brings us all together.,” says the restaurant’s co-founder Aseret Arroyo. “We’re ecstatic to showcase our creativity at the Egyptian, which will connect visitors to the local community through all its offerings.”
Rebel Hospitality is behind the project, but the Chicago-based management company wanted to inject as much local flair into the property as possible. “We invested quite a bit of time searching for a culinary concept to complete the Egyptian experience. We wanted a local partner with a vision that complimented ours and was still uniquely their own,” Rebel Hospitality principal Gene Kornota says. “We found that in Chilte. The brand radiates a passion for discovery through innovative ingredients and a genuine connection to the community.”
That community connection is also represented in outdoor murals painted by local artists, and the artistic spirit of the area is apparent in Egyptian Live, an outdoor venue and cocktail lounge where visitors and locals can enjoy live art and music, magicians, comedians and more. The property’s 49 guestrooms will be decked out in retro décor.
“We are delighted to open the Egyptian and become an intrinsic and active contributor to Grand Avenue’s eclectic and creative corridor,” Kornota says. “The independent spirit and creativity that exude from this community are in perfect harmony with the ethos of The Egyptian, and it’s what inspired us to create a destination that could seamlessly become an integral part of Downtown Phoenix’s epicenter for innovators, artists, and creators.”
