A landmark property in Clayton, the Seven Gables Inn, has reopened following an extensive 18-month, $9.5-million renovation.
The hotel property, at 26 N. Meramec Ave. in downtown Clayton, dates back to 1926. Known for its gabled European roofing, decorative timbering, massive chimney and outdoor courtyard, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Among the highlights of the project is the new skywalk that now connects the north and south sides of the hotel. A revamp of the European-style garden courtyard showcases that Boston ivy that winds along the stucco walls; and a large tree, decorated with lanterns and warm bistro lights, provides shade for the patio tables and lounge chairs that dot the brick floor.
“The Seven Gables Inn has provided a quirky charm and European ambiance in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the Clayton business district for more than 90 years,” said Amy Gill, who co-founded co-founded Restoration St. Louis, along with her husband, Amrit. “We wanted to ensure that this oasis-like treasure remains for decades more.”
The Gills and Restoration St. Louis have restored the 32-room, Tudor Revival-style inn to its previous glory, along with its street-level restaurant—formerly known as Molly Darcy’s Pub—which has now reopened as the Restaurant at Seven Gables Inn. The restaurant’s menu offerings feature some of the former eatery’s favorites, including the award-winning Tenderloin Sandwich, Chicken Pot Pie and Fish ‘n Chips.
The property’s original architects, Capt. Gunther Meier and Norman Comfort of Meier and Comfort, Inc., were attracted to the attributes of Tudor English design from their time spent in Europe in the military. Comfort also admired author Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, “The House of Seven Gables,” hence, the inn’s moniker. The building originally contained 27 apartments, four offices and four storefronts. Once completed, the two located their office at the property and continued designing Tudor-style residential areas throughout St. Louis, including Fair Oak Estates, Picardy Lane in Ladue, and York Village in Brentwood, to name a few.
