Central Station Hotel opens on South Main, aims to honor Memphis' past and future

Correction: The description of Bishop was incorrect in a previous version of this article. It is a French brasserie. 

Converted from a 105-year-old transportation hub in the heart of the South Main Historic Arts District, the long-awaited Central Station Hotel opened Tuesday after four years of planning, design and construction.

The 123-room Curio Collection by Hilton used historic elements paired with work by local artists and a nod to Memphis' rich musical legacy to inspire the design of the boutique hotel at 545 S. Main St.

McLean Wilson, principal at Kemmons Wilson Companies, which led the hotel project, also worked on the design for Crosstown Concourse. He said the goal was not only to create something special for hotel guests but also for Memphians.

"We had to show that whether a hotel guest or a local Memphian is in the train station they are no doubt in Memphis, they are no doubt on South Main and they are no doubt at the Central Station Hotel," Wilson said.

To represent the city, the music is in the driver's seat.

But Wilson said the hotel didn't want to just showcase the sound of Beale Street or Graceland but rather the full depth of the influence of Memphis musicians industry wide. To do that, his team started to collect vinyl records of artists who have connections to the city.

By opening day, 10,000 records lined the walls of Eight and Sands, the hotel's cocktail bar. Over the speakers, Memphis music can be heard. Guests can tune in-room speakers on to the frequency of the cocktail bar and carry the music with them.

"It's our own mini radio station," Wilson said.

Even the DJ booth was built out of a vintage church organ as another nod to Memphis' musical roots.

PREVIOUSLY:The Central Station hotel will open in the fall in Memphis' South Main District

DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS:Hotel boom continues in Downtown Memphis with more than 2,000 rooms planned

Wilson said he hopes the hotel will belong to guests as much as it belongs to residents.

"We wanted to create a place for all the people who live in South Main," he said. "It's their watering hole, their living room, their den... More than anything we want the South Main community to see it as theirs."

The art ties the hotel to the South Main art district.

Tucked in near countless art galleries and studios, the hotel is filled with original art from Memphis artists and others along the train line from Chicago to New Orleans. Inside the guest rooms, Memphis photographer Jamie Harmon showcases the journey travelers who pass through the train station experience.

“Central Station is a testament to the city’s history and culture, and we are thrilled to be able to utilize the vast talents of the artists and artisans of the city in bringing this hotel to life,” Wilson said. “The South Main District continues to grow as an exciting and vital area of Memphis, and the Central Station Hotel will play an integral part in bringing visitors and residents together in a true Memphian sensibility.” 

The Downtown Memphis Commission will host the State of Downtown celebration and award ceremony at the newly opened hotel from 4-7 p.m. Friday.

The final component of the hotel — Bishop, a French brasserie with a Southern twist — is expected to open by mid-November.

Desiree Stennett covers economic development and business at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at desiree.stennett@commercialappeal.com, 901-529-2738 or on Twitter: @desi_stennett.