The new owners, Kevin Carter and partner Cassie Davis took over the property in the Fall of 2022 with plans to bring the hotel back to life with modern updates and a new interior style while honoring the property’s history. The proverbial bones of the hotel continue to shine and feature original details such as the brick walls, massive wood beams, high ceilings, wood floors and other historic elements.
Carter is the founder of Banded Hospitality Group, which includes Break Even Beermakers, a taproom, brew house and kitchen in Amador City, the Banded Family Ranch, 90 acres of oak woodlands near Shenandoah Valley, and now the Imperial Hotel. Break Even Beermakers opened in 2020 and is the backbone of a small, holistic food and drink experience and hub for outdoor activity in the region. The ranch features a hop yard, olive orchard, grazing animals and gardens with various fruits and vegetables which supply ingredients used at the hotel restaurant and brewery. Banded Family Ranch focuses on farming principles rooted in permaculture, soil regeneration and finding balance in an ever-changing ecosystem.
“Farming and responsible land stewardship is an underpinning of everything we do. The brewery, ranch and hotel are part of a larger ethos of supporting a healthy environment and community,” said Carter. “The hotel has been a cornerstone in the community for a long time. Cassie and I wanted to reinvigorate the property while preserving its historic beauty. We aspire to make the Imperial a beautiful and elegant boutique hotel experience while retaining its authentic charm. This is where you can find locals and visitors enjoying a craft cocktail at the old wooden bar, listening to live music on the patio or celebrating a special occasion in the dining room.”
The team behind the reopening of the hotel and restaurant will include Courtney Blake, owner of Pilot Light Consulting, who has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years, and General Manager Shelly Scott, a familiar face who has worked at the property for more than 13 years and the last three owners, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the team and guest experience. The Imperial Hotel Restaurant & Bar presents a talented team, including Executive Chef Max Benson (The Club @ Point o’Woods, C.B. Hannegan’s Public House; externship at 3-Michelin star Manresa), Consulting Chef Michael Evans (Atelier Crenn, Bar Tartine, Commonwealth), Bar Consultants Miranda Escalante (Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, Edison Craft Ales + Kitchen) and Rosie Grillo (Catch, Holiday Cocktail Lounge), Wine Steward Alyssa Luft, and Sommeliers/Wine Consultants Simi Grewal (Decant SF, The Village Pub, Birba) and Cara Patricia (Decant SF, Saison, Hakkasan SF), who are all working together to create a destination-worthy culinary experience that marries the best of Amador City with new accommodations and dining options.
The two-floor boutique hotel will feature six redesigned guestrooms in the main building, with an additional three cottage rooms tucked away behind Break Even Beermakers. The cottages are also being refreshed with new decor and amenities and will open in late Spring. In the main building, the interior spaces have been carefully transformed to retain the historic charm while offering a new elegant, minimal design that seamlessly blends with the original wood floors, high ceilings, exposed beams and brick walls.
The hotel will include three king rooms, two with semi-private balconies overlooking Main St., and three queen rooms, two with a connecting door, an option for larger groups. Each room will feature a private bathroom with new modern amenities, including Salt & Stone body wash and Kevin Murphy hair products. The rooms will also feature new organic drapes by Barn & Willow, Marshall Bluetooth speakers, Poliviar Gooseneck electric kettles and luxury, sustainably-produced linens by Quince. Guests can purchase in-room items, including organic snacks, Mendi CBD products and house-curated cocktail kits.
The artwork throughout the rooms and common areas has been carefully curated to incorporate existing art from the hotel’s history alongside other vintage pieces, including the hotel’s original bulletin board and hotel signage dating back more than 100 years.
Photography: Justin Allen
Tags: Banded Hospitality Group, Cassie Davis, Imperial Hotel, Kevin Carter
