Lily Hall anticipates completion by fall, bringing lodging, Spanish restaurant, speakeasy

The times are changing for the hotel industry, as present-day travelers are on the hunt for a unique, local experience wrapped in with their stay in a new city, rather than just a bed to stay the night.

Pensacola's newest boutique lodging house, Lily Hall, is geared toward giving guests that one-of-a-kind stay.

Nestled in Pensacola's North Hill neighborhood at 415 N. Alcaniz St., it is still walking distance from downtown.

Lily Hall partner Steve Mabee said the hall encourages guests to "choose their own adventure" and gives back the control to guests of how they would like to spend their time. Once completed, hopefully by fall 2022, Lily Hall will offer guests 15 boutique suites to choose from, a breezy garden sitting area, library parlor, Spanish-inspired restaurant and main bar, and an intimate, prohibition-era speakeasy among several other unique hangout areas.

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The lure of the lodging house is to transport guests into a whimsical world of wonder, with nooks and crannies hidden throughout the 10,560-square-foot lodging house for guests to explore. Think secret passageways, leather-bound books, authentic Old Fashioned cocktails, candlelight and fictionalized letters from dead authors.

Nashville development partners from Stahlman Hospitality paid close attention to trends on the rise in the lodging industry when in the blueprint stages for Lily Hall, such as guests wanting a more "hands-off" experience when checking into a hotel. They wanted freedom to show up when they wanted and know exactly what they were getting when they arrived.

Lily Hall rooms will be operated under a virtual concierge system, Mabee said, that allows guests to check-in at their leisure and explore where they want in the lodging house, while still being able to contact someone for help at any given time.

Other rising trends in the hotel industry, such as lobbies being designed as social hubs, unique dining experiences, paperless check-ins and digital room selections, all were incorporated into the Lily Hall model.

Mabee described how the little gathering spaces to explore throughout the hall are what make it so unique, each having its unique feel or vibe. Guest can opt for a light and airy vibe in the garden terrace, or pursue an intimidate, moody evening in the candlelit speakeasy bar.

Preserving the building's history

Though it would have been easier (and cheaper) to tear down the building and start the project anew, the rich history and character of the building is what gave the property its charm.

"It would have lost its story," Mabee said.

The Pensacola landmark dates back to 1928, where it was built to function as a congregation hall for the Old Mount Olive Baptist Church. With a place on Pensacola's "Seven to Save" list of endangered buildings, the spacious and airy place of fellowship needed major revitalization to have a chance at second life.

With heavy remodels to the inside, redesigning everything aside from the building's shell, the building now should be able to stand at least another century, said partner Troy Stackhouse.

The building has been vacant since 2004 after being damaged by Hurricane Ivan, deeming the space uninhabitable.

Stackhouse said the goal is to create something people in the neighborhood can use and make it an everyday place of fellowship again as it was as a church, just in a different form.

He said the feel of the restaurants and bars are intended to be somewhere neighbors could walk to and enjoy on an afternoon, without having to go onto Palafox.

The hall will include more casual places to sip sangria out in the garden, as well as places to order a full dinner.

Terry Raley is leading the food and beverage offerings at the Lily House, giving each hub a unique brand and identity that merges Pensacola's past with the present.

Brother Fox and Sister Hen

The hall's main restaurant, Brother Fox, will be Spanish-inspired, a nod to the original Spanish settlers of Pensacola. The restaurant's name, however, comes from a former pastor of the original church.

Some of the main dishes will include a sharable carne asada, along with wood-fired seafood, premium vegetables and several varieties of tartare. Drinks on the main bar's menu will be based on light, refreshing, citrus-based beverages.

Raley said each restaurant has involved an open fire pit, and Brother Fox will be no different.

Attached to the restaurant will be a smaller speakeasy, fitting only about two dozen people lined across the bar. Meant to be a counterpart to the restaurant, Sister Hen, abbreviated with the acronym "sh" implying a secret, will allow priority seating for patrons of the restaurant to skip the line to enter the bar through a passageway inside. Those not eating at Brother Fox but who want to get a drink can enter a line from the outside.

Raley said the concept for Sister Hen alludes to the finer hospitality of the bar scene in the 1920s to 1940s era, some of which has since been lost in the modern-day bar scene. He said the prohibition theme will be less of a gimmick and more of a way of life, such as bringing back dress code and house rules in the bar.

The speakeasy will follow a similar design to Holland House, a Nashville speakeasy that Raley also designed in the early 2000s, but that has since closed. The restaurant was praised by the Nashville Scene for its laidback atmosphere and more than 50 classic and contemporary cocktails, such as a rye Manhattan with house-made maraschino cherries and a Village Reserve bourbon infused with back and Olive & Sinclair chocolate, according to the Nashville Scene.

Bartenders will be dressed up for the occasion, with a focus on tending to guests, crafting drinks with the utmost care, Raley said.

The room will be composed primarily of dark walnut tones and the lighting will be primarily generated by candlelight to provide the "genuine, old-school" experience that people associate with the prohibition era.

"I think it will be something people gravitate toward," Raley said.

The bar will cater to what Raley refers to as the canon of cocktails, along with specialty drinks that match the classic vibe.

The seating for the small bar will start out on a first-come, first-serve basis, with potential for an online waitlist system be added on.

If the line grows too long, there will be plenty of other places to sit and order a drink, such as Lily Hall's parlor or outdoor area.

The parlor will remain open to the public until about 10 p.m. or so when it will be closed to the public and reserved as a space for guests of the lodging house.

Mabee said Lily Hall will provide a luxury stay at a sub-luxury price.

Further updates on the development of Lily Hall can be found on the Lily Hall Instagram page, Brother Fox Instagram page and Sister Hen Instagram page.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Lily Hall makes strides toward fall opening in Pensacola for lodging, dining