The remodel began January of 2008. “We tried to keep as many of the original features from 1929 as possible,” Black said. “We wanted to blend the historic original with a new contemporary look.”

He explained that in order to preserve the building’s heritage, they kept the original front desk, windows, archways and stairway railings. All that blends seamlessly with the white leather furniture, and a diamond shaped gray pewter and white limestone lobby floor.

It took work crews months to remove coats of paint going back 80 years to get down to the original latham plaster walls. They also installed new carpeting, electrical wiring and lights throughout the building, as well as the hookups for each room’s cable plasma HD television and internet access.

The doorways were made much higher and wider than the originals. The beds have a drawer underneath and have either a queen sized or full sized high-end Simmons mattress.

The bathrooms had to be totally gutted and replaced. The new upscale, European fixtures were placed in the same exact space once occupied by their older counterparts. The bathroom floors were covered with new round penny mosaic tile, very similar to the original flooring.

The three-story brick building was retrofitted for earthquake safety in the 1980s and contains 35 rooms. Now, it is also partially ADA compliant with one room accessible to wheelchair users on the first floor.

“We are the first European boutique hotel in Long Beach,” Black said. “According to the dictionary definition, a boutique hotel has to be one block off the beaten path, and in an old, historic building.”

Knowlton has managed boutique hotels in Colorado and California for many years, and he now serves as the Varden’s general manager. Black had been in movie and television promotion and marketing for more than 20 years. About three years ago, the men began looking to open their own hotel. “I heard that Long Beach was a great seaside city, but I never visited until about two years ago,” Black said. “When I arrived in the downtown area and saw all the beautiful historic buildings, I fell in love with it.”

They found the Dolly Varden a few months later and purchased it. “Every destination city has a boutique hotel,” Black said. “It’s time for Long Beach to have one.”

“We offer one-on-one service that you can’t get in the larger hotels,” Knowlton enthused. “We have the ability to get to know our guests and give them a personalized touch.” He noted that continental breakfast, early evening wine tasting, and high-speed wireless internet access are all included in the rate.

Black added that the hotel’s guests love its close proximity to downtown’s many fine restaurants and other waterfront attractions. “There is definitely a renaissance happening in downtown Long Beach,” he said. “That renaissance can only expand when people like us are willing to venture out a little beyond what is already happening.”

“We are very excited to be able to contribute to the continuing transformation of Long Beach’s great urban waterfront,”Knowlton said. “I am reminded of that famous old Broadway musical song,” Black added. “Hello Dolly, it’s so nice to have you back where you belong.”

Dolly Varden Hotel
335 Pacific Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90802
562.432.8950
877.3.VARDEN
thevardenhotel.com