Some bows to history make a lot of sense. Others leave you scratching your head. The Eastland Park Hotel, seen here Wednesday evening, is a grand hotel in the city that carries a bit of nostalgia at the intersection of Congress and High Streets. The building that has been completely gutted and redesigned is scheduled for a December 2013 unveiling. It's got some history attached too. After all Charles Linbergh spent a night or two here and even Eleanor Roosevelt and her pooch caught some zzzzzzz's on the upper floors. Cool, huh! Even cooler, a brand new, red lettered sign went up mid-week that has a lot of residents talking, some even chuckling a bit. No, don't look for any spelling errors. They're not that dumb. Here's where some are are scratching and wondering why. You see the grand lady has been renamed for the reopening. It will now be known as, ta da... the Westin Portland Harborview! Thousands of dollars, I'm sure, went into the new sign EASTLAND, let alone all the bucks paid out to a creative-design team that came up with the updated, hipster name 'harborview', but can you imagine the confusion you are headed for when you attempt to make a reservation from 'away'.
"Yes, hello, yes I'd like to make a reservation for the night of the 21st at the Eastland Hotel. What? You say there is no hotel? But I'm staring at the sign. It's right here in front of me. We stayed here just last year. I know it's there,.. here."
Get the picture?
Scratch, scratch, scratch...
All I can say on this one is WHY?
Beautiful old building.
ReplyDeleteOkay, that is a confusing thing. What about the people who've made a reservation at the Harborview who are driving around trying to find it when all they see is the Eastland. It will be a bit confusing all the way around.
ReplyDeleteWe used to like to go to The Top of the East at night...Wish it could just stay The Eastland...
ReplyDeleteAh, sometimes it's hard to keep up with changes.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the Top of the East to open back up again.
ReplyDeleteI'll drink to that!
Corporate decisions!
ReplyDeleteThese are decision only a corporation could have made. Bet the Westin hotel chain might have something to say about the sign. Hope the sign company got paid.
ReplyDeleteOne never knows what corporate suits will do ensconced in the confines of their plush offices. We deal with their decisions every day, most of which are either wrong, confusing or both. Reference JCP which is now known again as Penney's. Or the menu at Mimi's cafe here in Ocala which was totally changed since we went there last (about a month ago) and now they have removed our favorite meals! Go figure. But we won't go back to Mimi's. And if the parking lot is any indication, a lot of other folks aren't going back, either. Stupid!
ReplyDeleteChange is inevitable in this day and age -- doesn't matter if it makes sense anymore -- barbara
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Did something pass under the table?
ReplyDeleteI've got a small meeting of lawyers in my specialty a week from Monday and Tuesday. If the Cardinals make the World Series there will be games on Saturday, Sunday and maybe Monday that week. The meeting will be at The Westin right across the street from Busch Stadium. Bloody chaos.
How would I know, Birdman? I didn't do it!
ReplyDeleteI like that sign, I think it should stay..and they will just have to change all the stationary back again :)
ReplyDelete