History of Broadlind Hotel
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Designed and built in 1928 by architecture team Piper & Kahrs, Broadlind Hotel is located in the East Village Arts District in Downtown Long Beach on the corner of Broadlind and Linden. The same year, historical landmarks, The Lafayette Hotel, across from Broadlind, and the Villa Riviera on Ocean were built.
Broadlind Hotel was designed with influences from the Italian Renaissance style with detailed arches that reach from the ground to the top of the second floor and constructed with thin red brick and cream terra cotta. Although the architecture of the Broadlind alludes to the Italian Renaissance with it’s arches, stone columns and braided concrete ornamentation, the building can also be seen as a collective of American styles, similar to red brick buildings seen in the Midwest. The wrought iron overhang with intricate metalwork that hangs over the entrance exudes classic New Orleans style. The large wood beam doors can be seen as a nod to Spanish mission-style architecture in California. The Broadlind Hotel uniquely blends all the elements together making this an interesting landmark that cannot go unrecognized in Southern California’s favorite beach town. The original hand painted sign, Broadlind Hotel, still sits in tall letters on the side of the building, showing its history and adding wonderful ambiance to the East Village Arts District.
The Broadlind was once a 21-room hotel with a manager’s unit and was said to attract mostly male clientele, many of whom were navel officers docked in Long Beach, who would rent the apartments for short-term while in town. The open floor penthouse has been converted into an open, loft-like room. The downstairs basement, currently The Blind Donkey, was once known as a secretive Elite-Only,
VIP gambling and drinking hall during the Prohibition Era. Some say there is a secret tunnel connecting from the Lafayette to the Blind Donkey!
Despite its popularity from its beginning, Broadlind Hotel was vacant and rundown for years until the current owner purchased it in 2005 with ambition to turn it into an apartment unit and retail space on the first and second floor. Today, the Broadlind has been converted back to a lavish Boutique Hotel, giving guests an opportunity to stay at a Historical Landmark in Long Beach. Each room has been renovated with a relaxing beach vibe and remodeled kitchenette, but still maintain some history by keeping original fixtures.
On the first floor, guests can enjoy fresh coffee in the indoor/outdoor space at Linden Public, grab something quick and healthy at Revive Juice Bar, a romantic dinner at Thai District, and conclude the night with drinks at the infamous Blind Donkey Whiskey Bar.
Experience a piece of history and stay at the Broadlind Hotel.