Barclay Hotel

The Barclay Hotel was located at 237 S. 18th St. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Rittenhouse Square. Opened in October 1929, it was, at one time, the most famous hotel in the city, and was owned by the well-known developer John McShain. After a later owner went into bankruptcy in 1992, the property was sold in 1994 and was converted to condominiums.[1]

Barclay Hotel ad (1938)
For the hotel in New York City, see InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel.
Barclay Hotel
Barclay Condominiums
General information
LocationRittenhouse Square, Philadelphia
Address237 S. 18th Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
Opening1929
Closed1994
OwnerAllan Domb Real Estate
Design and construction
Architect(s)John McShain (Barclay Hotel) and Shay Construction (Barclay Condominium)
Other information
Parkinglocated at 18th Street and Walnut Street
Website
Rental and Sales Listings

The hotel was the site of the FBI's Abscam sting operation in 1980, which exposed corruption in government. Federal agents posing as Arab sheikhs rented a suite here, where they solicited the help of local, state and federal officials.[2]

The hotel was first put up for sale in 1989 for approximately $30 million. In April 1992, owner Barclay Hotel Associates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The property was purchased by Princeton developer Peter Marks for $4.3 million on Monday, October 31, 1994.[1] Construction on the Barclay Condominiums was completed in 2005.[3]

Literary references

The narrator of Nicholson Baker's novel The Fermata first discovers his ability to "freeze time" while staying at the Barclay Hotel as a child.

References
  1. Belden, Tom (November 5, 1994). "Barclay Will Make Transition To Condos. The Luxury Hotel Was Sold For $4.3 Million. Its Owner Intends To Convert It 'In A First-class Way.'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia Media Network (Digital) LLC. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  2. "Owner Puts The Barclay Up For Sale", May 20, 1989, By Susan Warner, philly.com
  3. "Historic Barclay Hotel Condominium". www.shayconstruction.com. Shay Construction, Inc. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.

39.94874°N 75.17072°W / 39.94874; -75.17072

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