Thornwood's new hotel and rooftop restaurant near completion. Here's a sneak peek.
Germantown’s Thornwood development will soon welcome a second hotel.
Landon Ray, a leasing agent for McNeill Commercial Real Estate, recently told The Commercial Appeal that the new 111-room TownePlace Suites by Marriott hotel at 7800 Neshoba Road is expected to open in late June or early July. A firm date hasn’t been set yet.
His father, Spence Ray, is the vice president of McNeill Commercial Real Estate and developer of the 17-acre Thornwood property located near Neshoba and South Germantown roads. Spence Ray said the five-story, $17 million Marriott-branded hotel represents the Thornwood project’s sixth phase. He noted the hotel will staff 24 employees.
The 138,000-square-foot TownePlace Suites is poised to be a complement to the 108-room Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Memphis Germantown at 1680 S. Germantown Road, which has been Thornwood’s only hotel since opening in 2017. Memphis-based hotel consultant Chuck Pinkowski, owner of Pinkowski & Company, said TownePlace Suites is built specifically for the extended stay market. He expects the new TownePlace Suites to have as strong of occupancy rate as the Hampton, which is known to be filled up during non-event weeks.
"The Hampton Inn and the TownePlace Suites are both really strong brands, but they're also two different major hotel companies — Hilton (Hampton Inn) and Marriott (TownePlace Suites)," Pinkowski said. "I think it's a great combination as opposed to having two hotels that are Hilton or Marriott products. Having those two different hotels really maximize the opportunities there in Thornwood. "
What should guests expect at TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Thornwood?
The hotel features studio rooms all equipped with full kitchens, microwaves, living and sitting areas, well-lit desks with ergonomic chairs, flat-screen TVs, wireless Internet and complimentary coffee and tea makers.
The different studio room options include:
One king bedroom, plus sofa bed, occupying 390 square feet
Two queen bedrooms, occupying 465 square feet
One king bedroom, sofa bed and corner room, occupying 665 square feet.
There are also one-bedroom suites equipped with one king bedroom, sofa bed and separate living room, occupying 650 square feet.
The property’s featured on-site amenities include a free buffet and hot breakfast served on the first floor near the check-in lobby area, dry cleaning service, laundry, 24-hour fitness center and an indoor heated pool.
The hotel will also include 5,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor, which will house both a women’s salon and photography studio, according to Spence Ray.
The hotel, occupies 1.2 acres at the corner of Neshoba Road and Owen Manor Avenue, will also have surface level and underground parking.
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The Overland: A rooftop restaurant in Germantown
TownePlace Suites by Marriott will feature an upscale rooftop restaurant and bar concept called The Overland, which will be on the fifth floor of the hotel. Spence Ray said the hope is for the restaurant to open by August. He said the restaurant also can be rented out for special occasions or gatherings.
The restaurant will include an open patio overlooking The Grove at Germantown Performing Arts Center and an interior dining concept. Spence Ray said The Overland will be seating done by reservation only.
“The reason is just because it is on the roof, and we can’t have people standing around out in the hallway,” Spence Ray said.
Check-in for the restaurant is on the first floor before guests are taken upstairs to The Overland, which will only serve dinner. The Overland will hold a seating capacity of 100 people and provide a unique dining experience.
“We’re thrilled about this restaurant in this area because nowhere in Germantown really has a lifted view, while guests can eat,” Landon Ray said. “We’ve been to a tons of hotels where in Nashville, for example, they’re notorious — and not in a bad way — of having a lot of hotels with rooftop bars and restaurants. It’s one of those vibes where you don’t see it very often and when you get to go to one, it’s a lot of fun. We’re hoping that this will become a staple in Germantown. It will be a really good restaurant and a really fun place to come and eat at.”
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What are the rates at TownePlace Suites in Thornwood?
Spence Ray said rates for TownePlace Suites will range between $160 to $300 per night.
What's next for the Thornwood development in Germantown?
The Registry at Thornwood — a high-end apartment building — is the seventh phase of the development. Spence Ray said the plan is to start construction on The Registry at the beginning of 2025. The project, which will be on the northwest corner of Neshoba Road and Exeter Road, was approved by the Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen in September 2021. The five-story building will be 54 luxury residential units and 1,800 square feet of retail on the ground floor. Spence Ray said rent for the apartments is $3,500 to $6,000 per month.
Spence Ray said phase eight or the final Thornwood development will have at least 4,700 to 5,000 square feet of office space. He also noted that phase eight could be another residential building or another hotel depending on how well the TownePlace Suites does.
“If God will bless this hotel, like He blessed the Hampton, then we would love to do another hotel,” Spence Ray said. “We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves.”
Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at [email protected] or 901-293-1610.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Thornwood in Germantown adds TownePlaces Suites and rooftop restaurant
