NEW ARRIVALS
The JEREMY on SUNSET
By Leigh Beecham
After many delays, new owners and a rebrand, The Jeremy hotel on Sunset is finally ready for its close up. Years of menacing traffic construction on the corner of LaCienega and Sunset, have finally produced a chic new hotel project by designers Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The Jeremy encompasses 50 suites and two penthouse suites amid the 286-room layout. Connecting the two building towers is an LED-lit ethereal Dream Catcher installation by Walter Barry, which just might distract from the rooftop views that span from downtown to Santa Monica. But it wasn’t so easy building the latest luxury hotel in West Hollywood– one that has not graced this area in years. The project, which started out as a Chicago and New York transplant, The James, was in a state of flux for many months before the Starwood Capital Group’s acquisition swooped in and took over to save the development, and to finally get the hotel up and running, renaming it The Jeremy in the process. “Jeremy” is a fictional character fashioned after a cool guy who has his pulse on the best of what the city has to offer and can get anything you desire–even a mood–enhancing latte in the afternoon when you need a pick me up. Actually, that cup of Joe will be coming from celebrity roaster J. Gursey Coffee (Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise are fans). The artisan program will feature fair-trade coffee and teas from around the world and signature drinks exclusive to the hotel such as a cherry blossom latte and Nitro draft coffee on tap made in-house. SBE was originally in charge of the on-site restaurant, and Zack Patterson, from Melrose Umbrella Company, was building out the bar program, but now the polished concrete lobby floor is a sprawling maze of mid-century modern lounging vignettes with white sofas, and pale woods leading to the casual all-day Etcho Café that serves veggie egg-white wraps, salads and sandwiches. In the glamorous JOÃO bar, you’ll find retro libations by Christian Weisson (last seen at Westbound downtown), signature bao buns with duck confit, a mushroom quinoa burger or a grilled rib-eye. For in-room dining, guests can experience a personalized lunchbox ordered via text. Actually, you can pretty much request any hospitality request via your smart phone, such as your favorite bourbon drink, waiting in your room upon arrival. Executive Chef Chang Sivilay is a native-born Laotian who grew up in San Diego and has an impressive California pedigree that includes The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, The Standard Hotel in downtown L.A. and the Mondrian just a few doors down the street on Sunset Boulevard. But the hotel is not done with culinary concepts. There is still an unnamed restaurant going into the adjacent ground-floor space, and while you can throw a private bash on the top floor bar lounge and take advantage of the sweeping views for now, that venue will also have a new restaurant operator-partner launching in the coming months. For one of the property’s first big parties, the hotel featured a pop-up celebrity Gibson Guitar lobby installation created in collaboration with the VH1 Save the Music charity. The guitars were designed with visual artists and musicians such as Miley Cyrus, Patti Smith, Slash, The Roots and Wyclef Jean. The tradition will continue with other rotating art installations throughout the hotel, and it’s a good thing we are not getting too attached. As the progression of the property continues, alas, “Jeremy” is also only a pop-up hotel for one year before it heads off to start another brand in another city. Over the course of the next year, The Jeremy will be transformed into the 1 West Hollywood, operated by the SH Group, and will become the fourth property in Starwood Capital’s award-winning eco-conscious and sustainable luxury brand. Looks like the sprawling 10,000-square-feet of meeting and event space will finally be coming in handy for the city once both towers are fully opened and functioning. We will miss The Jeremy but can’t wait for what this ever-evolving unique hospitality brand has in-store for West Hollywood. www.jeremyhotel.com or (800) 301-0171
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