More perks coming to El Fidel Hotel
When it opened in the early 1920s, the El Fidel Hotel offered travelers more than just an affordable, comfortable place to sleep. Guests could sit down to eat breakfast or lunch, grab a drink at the bar, or gather with friends in a comfortable setting.
Soon, travelers and Las Vegas locals alike will once again be able to enjoy the El Fidel in much the same way.
The hotel’s owners, Michelle Sandoval and Chico Gallegos, recently had a liquor license approved by the Las Vegas City Council. They are now working through the final stages of the lengthy process with the state’s Alcohol and Gaming Division.
“We’re hoping to have that in the next two weeks,” Sandoval said.
Once the licensing process is complete, the hotel will be able to offer alcoholic beverages throughout the property, including in the ballroom, for events in the courtyard, and at the new bar in the hotel lobby that will open later this year.
“The bar will be opening up as the Iron Horse,” Sandoval said. “The ballroom is ready for events, too. That will be called the Meadows Ballroom.”
While the new bar will offer a great place to unwind and relax, those needing a place to do some work with the aid of a caffeine boost will soon be able to grab espresso drinks at the El Fidel’s new coffee shop called Dichos, which will be located in the lobby area as well.
“We’re still ironing out some of those details,” Sandoval said. “And we’re doing build-out stuff right now.”
Nicole Thomas, the hotel’s director of special events, said when the building opened in 1923, the area that will become Dichos was the hotel’s newsstand and cigar humidor. More recently, the space was occupied by a coffee shop, so only a small amount of work needs to be done to open Dichos, according to Thomas. When the new coffee shop opens, cafe tables will be added to part of the lobby. The two existing phone booths in the lobby — one from the 1940s and a newer one from the ’1950s — will remain, but will undergo renovations as well.
“We’re going to try to rewire them and turn them into media stations,” Thomas said. “You can go in there, plug in all your devices to USB ports, close the door and the fan will turn on, the light will turn on. You can do private business, you can do banking business. You won’t have to worry about disturbing other people, or other people listening in on you.”
Once construction is completed, the coffee shop will be open during mornings through late afternoons.
“We’re looking to have it open from early morning all the way to at least 4 p.m.,” Gallegos said. “Maybe even a little bit later depending on the after- school crowd. We’re not going to stick with just mornings.”
The hotel’s guest rooms are also being completely renovated and modernized. Carpeting is being removed, and hardwood flooring is being refinished.
Construction on 10 rooms should be done by October, and many of the renovations on the main level should be completed by then as well, but Thomas acknowledged that given the building’s age and the numerous remodels that have already been done over the decades, delays are possible.
“Historic renovation kind of goes like this: You open up a wall, and in that process, you find six more walls you need to open,” Thomas said.
Once renovations to guest rooms and some of the new lobby amenities are completed, Sandoval plans to hold a grand opening event for the public.
“When we do a grand opening, we are going to do a big grand opening,” Sandoval said.
“It will be a big party,” Thomas added.
But the hotel is open for business now. Guest rooms are available, dry cleaning can be dropped off at the front desk, and the Gypsy Spirit store is open Mondays through Saturdays. The hotel is also taking bookings for events in the Meadows Ballroom, and staff are offering guided tours of the historic property.
The El Fidel Hotel is located at 500 Douglas Ave. and can be reached at 505-425-6761, or through its Facebook page.
