An Abandoned Strip Club In Providence, Rhode Island Was Transformed Into A Trendy Hotel
Ari Heckman, the designer and developer of real estate firm ASH NYC, grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, and said the location of The Dean Hotel was once an "undesirable place to be."
The brick building in downtown Providence was a seedy strip club and hotel. When someone contacted Heckman and his Brooklyn-based firm about purchasing the property, they warned him he might laugh, but that the building had potential.
Now, The Deal Hotel is a 52-room hotel with unique room designs, a coffee bar, beer garden, and karaoke room. It combines a chic, modern look with some of the original designs to go with custom furniture, mosaic tile flooring, and antique artwork in each room.
Take a look at the drastic transformation below:
BEFORE: The outside was a hapless brick building with ugly green awnings.
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/547cca4d6bb3f7d233b7ee2c-1200-900/the-dean-hotel-outisde-before.jpg" border="0" alt="The Dean Hotel outisde before">
AFTER: The exterior remains similar, but a new electric sign advertises the hotel.
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/547ccac5ecad04af12b2c11f-1199-899/the-dean-hotel-after-outside-1.jpg" border="0" alt="The Dean Hotel AFTER outside 1">
They've also since removed a sign that advertised "exotic dancers."
BEFORE: The entrance was drab and had a dark stone wall.
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/547ccc3eecad041918b2c11c-1200-901/before-dean-hotel-lobby-1.jpg" border="0" alt="BEFORE Dean Hotel lobby 1">
AFTER: The new lobby kept the same flooring, but created a vibrant entrance with unique furniture and a giant mirror.
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/547ccc85eab8ea1e5acdea91-1155-866/after-dean-hotel-lobby-1.jpg" border="0" alt="AFTER Dean Hotel Lobby 1">
Another view of the redesigned lobby:
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/547ccdaa69bedd181eb2c11c-1200-773/after-dean-hotel-lobby-2.jpg" border="0" alt="AFTER dean hotel lobby 2">
BEFORE: A dingy, tattered downstairs room that required great reconstruction.
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/547ccf466bb3f75d47b7ee2c-1200-900/before-dean-hotel-bolt-coffee-1.jpg" border="0" alt="BEFORE dean hotel bolt coffee 1">
AFTER: It now houses the first stand-alone location of the popular, local Bolt Coffee Company.
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/547ccfd269bedde323b2c122-1065-799/after-bolt-coffee-dean-hotel-1.jpg" border="0" alt="AFTER Bolt Coffee Dean Hotel 1">
BEFORE: The rooms were dirty and rotten, forcing construction workers to wear protective masks.
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/547cd131ecad043027b2c12c-1200-900/before-dean-hotel-room-1.jpg" border="0" alt="BEFORE dean hotel room 1">
AFTER: The king suites are bright with light walls, windows, and nice, wood paneling.
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/547cd1976da811514414ab2b-1045-783/after-dean-hotel-room-1.jpg" border="0" alt="AFTER dean hotel room 1">
There are several different room designs, from hostel-style, shared bunk-beds to connecting suites with several king and queen beds.
BEFORE: A dark, dreary bar with almost zero light.
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/547cd2f969beddb232b2c11d-1065-799/before-dean-hotel-bar-1.jpg" border="0" alt="BEFORE dean hotel bar 1">
AFTER: The Magdalenae Room is the warm, cozy cocktail lounge that has replaced the dilapidated bar above.
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/547cd3a66bb3f79761b7ee2b-1199-899/after-dean-hotel-the-magdalenae-room.jpg" border="0" alt="AFTER DEan hotel The Magdalenae Room">
BEFORE: The remains of the strip club.
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/547cd46e6bb3f79c61b7ee2f-1065-799/before-dean-hotel-strip-clubedited-1.jpg" border="0" alt="BEFORE dean hotel strip club_edited 1">
AFTER: Boombox, Providence's first karaoke bar has taken the strip club's place.
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/547cd4edeab8ea4e78cdea93-1200-901/after-dean-hotel-boombox-karaoke.jpg" border="0" alt="AFTER dean hotel boombox karaoke">
There is a public room for people to sing, or people can rent individual party rooms.
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