Commercial Hotel
National Register Listing
Street Address:
235 Richland Avenue West, Aiken, SC (Aiken County)
Alternate Name:
Hotel Aiken, Olwell Hotel, Holley Inn
NRHP Nomination
Record Number:
S10817702047
Description and Narrative:
The Commercial Hotel is a rectangular three-story building prominently situated on the southeast corner of Laurens Street and Richland Avenue in downtown Aiken. It was originally constructed in 1898 as the Hotel Aiken, a three-story brick masonry Romanesque building, and the footprint was expanded with a two-story addition in 1916. In 1929, the hotel underwent a major renovation that added a third story to the 1916 addition and updated the design in a restrained Colonial Revival style. The interior and exterior were extensively renovated to add classical ornamentation, and the masonry was covered with white stucco. As part of the 1929 renovation, the owners changed the name to the Commercial Hotel, aiming to address the city’s need for a modern commercial hotel to attract business visitors. The Commercial Hotel is locally significant for its commercial history and architecture. The hotel featured shops on the first floor and guest rooms on the second and third, providing retail opportunities and accommodations for the commercial district, and connecting the businesses on Laurens Street with those on Richland Avenue. The premiere local hotel from 1929 into the late 1970s, it catered to business needs and year-round visitors. The Commercial Hotel hosted travelers and conventions, served as an important local event venue, and provided retail space for local businesses at the intersection of the city’s two major commercial roads. The hotel is also an excellent intact commercial example of the Colonial Revival style in Aiken. It reflects a broader pattern of architectural transition in Aiken, when late 19th century commercial buildings dominated by Victorian-era elements were replaced by the Colonial Revival style popular in the first half of the 20th century. As one of the largest and most prominent Colonial Revival commercial buildings in Aiken, it stands out as a landmark local example of its style and type. Listed in the National Register December 30, 2024.
Period of Significance:
1929 – 1974
Level of Significance:
Local
Area of Significance:
Architecture;Commerce
National Register Determination:
listed
Date of Certification:
December 30 2024
