Opened in 1997, The Mercer is the sister hotel to The Greenwich Hotel.
History
Built in 1890 for John Jacob Astor III, the six-story, 84,000 square foot brick building has been cited by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission as an example of the Romanesque Revival period.[3] Architect William Schickel, known for his extensive work on behalf of the Archdiocese of New York, designed the building as offices for the vast Astor family holdings, resulting in a façade considerably more ornate than its industrial neighbors.[4][5][6] Prior to its conversion, the building served as artists' lofts and studios, for which the hotel has become known.[7]
The long-shuttered property was acquired in 1988;[8]BD Hotels, with André Balazs refurbished the building, then opened as The Mercer in 1997.[9] It was SoHo's first hotel,[10] and was later noted as SoHo's first five-star hotel.[11] They launched The Mercer Kitchen restaurant (1998–2022) the following year.[12] In 2023, Zero Bond founder Scott Sartiano[13] joined as a partner at The Mercer with BD Hotels, and established its contemporary food and beverage services.[11]
Design
The overall aesthetic allows The Mercer to be "the first hotel to offer an authentic taste of loft living", an urban signature that is completely original to New York.[14]
Parisian designer Christian Liaigre ensured all furnishings were kept original and exclusive to the hotel. Liaigre created a modernist interior with an emphasis on harmonized proportions and subtle color palettes.[3]
Sartiano's
Scott Sartiano opened Sartiano's Italian restaurant[13] at The Mercer in June 2023.[15] Culinary director and James Beard Award-winning chef Alfred Portale oversees the open kitchen's menu.[16][17]
Sartiano's replaced the former Mercer Kitchen,[9] which had closed in 2022,[18] operates the hotel's upper level café,[19] and provides room service throughout the hotel.[20]
In 2024, Sartiano reopened the brick-walled Submercer lounge,[21] a storied SoHo bar,[22][23] below its main dining room.[24]
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