The design envisioned for Banter, a boutique hotel proposed in the former Cafe and Then Some building on College Street, will pay homage to the structure’s history while bringing something unique to downtown Greenville.
Initial designs for the project were presented during a city project preview meeting Feb. 24 at the Prisma Health Welcome Center in Unity Park.
The project is being developed by Greenville-based Aileron Management and envisions a 17-room boutique hotel in the century-old building at 101 College St. Amenities will include a restaurant, a rooftop bar and a private, basement-level club designed to hearken back to a Prohibition-era speakeasy lounge.
Aileron founder and CEO Jason Boehm said the aim was to honor the building’s history through preserving its essential character but also to give the city a unique hotel offering.
Spartanburg-based PSi Design is working with Aileron to define the hotel’s look and feel. Bo Garland, PSi vice president of design, said many of the design elements for the project are inspired by the Art Nouveau movement that defined much of the architecture from the start of the 20th Century.
With feedback from the planning preview meeting, Boehm said his team will continue to refine plans for the project and expects to present it for review during the city’s Design Review Board meeting in April.
