The Kenmore
The Kenmore Hotel building, a majestic, sprawling Victorian building of decorative brick masonry, balconies and roof cresting, was constructed in 1878 by entrepreneur Adam Blake, the son of a slave, and expanded over time.
Flamboyant owner Bob Murphy in 1922 started the Rainbo Room, a lively nightclub that broadcast music through one of the nation’s first radio stations, WGY. Because of this wide exposure, entertainers clamored to perform there. Big names like Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington and Sophie Tucker appeared at the Rainbo Room, which closed in 1947 as the Big Band era waned.
Over time, additions, acquisitions and merging of space united the property into a massive complex occupying one city block. Among these buildings is the castle-like Steuben Club, established in 1888 as the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and now more commonly called the Steuben Club, after the athletic club that once occupied the building.
The team at Redburn will be creating 126 apartments in the Kenmore, with elegant, classic finishes. Over 35,000 square feet of commercial space will also be available.
