The Hampshire Cos. and The Pinnacle Cos., along with investment partner Circle Squared Alternative Investments, joined hotel executives and other stakeholders to open The MC Hotel in Montclair — Courtesy: R&J Strategic Communications
(Editor’s note: This story has been updated with quotes from executives from The Hampshire Cos. and Circle Squared Alternative Investments, along with additional information about The MC Hotel.)
By Joshua Burd
A development group has completed Montclair’s first ground-up, full-service hotel in more than 80 years, debuting a new 159-room Marriott property in the community’s popular downtown.
The Hampshire Cos. and The Pinnacle Cos., along with investment partner Circle Squared Alternative Investments, joined hotel executives and other stakeholders on Thursday to unveil The MC Hotel at Bloomfield Avenue and Orange Road. The 120,000-square-foot development is the latest addition to Montclair, coming with a new full-service restaurant, a rooftop bar and lounge and conference and event space.
Aparium Hotel Group will manage The MC Hotel, which is part of Marriott’s Autograph collection. Features include a 95-seat full-service restaurant known as Allegory, along with a 40-seat lobby bar with casual food and beverage options. The hotel chain also noted that a 106-seat rooftop bar and lounge will open next month, offering 3,600 square feet that includes outdoor space and seating, all-weather access and an outdoor area with views of the First Watchung Mountain, the township and the Manhattan skyline.
Meantime, the hotel includes more than 8,000 square feet of conference, meeting and event space, with the second floor dedicated to meeting rooms, a dramatic ballroom and an executive boardroom, according to a news release. The ninth floor has a lounge-style private event space, while the building also includes spaces named for its developers, including The Hampshire Suite, the CSQ Gallery and Pinnacle Boardroom.
“When we embarked on this project, we sought to not just build another hotel, but to redefine the hospitality experience, creating a space authentic to Montclair’s dynamic and vibrant downtown,” said James E. Hanson II, CEO and president of The Hampshire Cos. “The successful execution of that vision is evident as we celebrate the opening of The MC Hotel. From unique culinary experiences, art and music infused experiences, and breathtaking views, we’ve created a one-of-a-kind experience for guests and visitors as well as the local community.”
Crafted by David Ashen of Dash Design, The MC Hotel’s public spaces are designed to emulate a gallery space, showcasing the hotel’s local and nationally curated art collection. Aparium’s so-called translocal approach led the team to tap into the local creative community of Montclair, helping to bring the town’s spirit into the heart of The MC Hotel.
To that end, a rotating calendar of wellness, music, art, food and beverage pop-ups will feature wine tastings, chocolatier experiences, Wednesday evening art tours throughout the hotel and more.
“Along with our partners, our dream was to bring forth the most luxurious boutique hotel the state of New Jersey has ever seen,” said Jeff Sica, CEO of Circle Squared. “This morning, we officially made that dream a reality and could not have been prouder to share in the excitement alongside our investors and the great city of Montclair. This was a project that took incredible effort and the contributions of everyone involved has truly raised the bar for what’s possible in the world of commercial real estate and private investing.”
The developers and hotel operator touted the building’s proximity to the Montclair Art Museum, the Wellmont Theater and the town’s vibrant dining, shopping and entertainment scene. The hotel is also a five-minute drive from the Walnut Street and Bay Street NJ Transit stations.
“The opening of The MC Hotel is a very special occasion for Montclair, and it was important for us to invite the Montclair community into the creative process when creating the personality and vibe for this hotel,” said Oscar Fontana Roos, general manager of The MC Hotel. “Having Marriott’s support throughout that process, and debuting as part of the Autograph Collection, is something we are all very proud of.”
