Written by Aaron-Michael Fox.
A new boutique hotel might be coming soon to the Coal Exchange Building on the SW corner of 4th Avenue and 11thStreet in downtown Huntington, West Virginia.
The Coal Exchange Building was originally constructed in the mid-1920s by the Coal Exchange Bank, which failed during the Great Depression. After that, it was home to the C&O Railroad’s engineering offices for many years. In the early 2000s, the building was the home to Glenn’s Sporting Goods on the ground floor with Kindred Communications radio stations above.
The 14-story Coal Exchange Building was purchased at auction by Jay Barta in August of 2019 with the plan of converting the then-vacant building into a high-rise mixed-use office and residential tower, with retail space on the ground floor. However, it was recently announced that the building owner is seeking construction bids to convert the structure into a new boutique hotel.
A boutique hotel is a small, stylish hotel, usually located in a fashionable location in the city’s urban business district. Many are independent, but there are also plenty that are part of corporate chains. Compared to regular hotels, boutique hotels are generally more intimate and feature a strong artistic sense with a focus on locally-inspired designs. The appeal of a boutique hotel lies in its services and Instagram-worthy spots, and decors, as well as its location.
No timeline is known for construction/renovation of the historic building.
Photos of the Coal Exchange Building during the Great Flood of 1937 below:
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- The Coal Exchange Building as seen from the 900 block of 4th Avenue looking east.
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- Looking east from the Coal Exchange Building during the 1937 Flood.
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- Looking north from the Coal Exchange Building during the 1937 Flood.
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- The Coal Exchange Building during the 1937 Flood.
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- The Coal Exchange Building during the 1937 Flood.
