NEW ORLEANS, June 3, 2021 / PRNewswire / – One Step That Returns Entrepreneur Robert Thompson to his southern roots, the new food and drink veteran New Orleans Hospitality companies, Anjou & Co., has completed the purchase of the historic boutique hotel, The French Hotel (417 French St., New Orleans, LA 70116). The Frenchman is the first investment of many that Thompson and his team consider Mississippi Native joins the budding New Orleans Hospitality.
In the hospitality industry since he was 16, Thompson has owned and operated hospitality businesses for more than 25 years and has received four “Best New Restaurant” awards for various concepts. Most recently, Thompson founded and built the highly regarded 20-part “eatertainment” concept Punch Bowl Social. His visionary approach got the company off the ground Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative Companiesies In the world list and was individually praised as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2017.
Thompson followed suit for personal and professional reasons New Orleans Early 2021. Professionally, Thompson chose New Orleans for its unrivaled hospitality industry and ambition to be a part of it, especially during the post-pandemic resurgence of the city. Personally, during his 40+ visits to the city, Thompson fell in love with the idea of living and joining the business world New Orleans. The move not only takes him back to his southern roots, but also lives where his hospitality business is headquartered, giving him more time with his wife and young sons.
“New Orleans is a very special place for me, steeped in history and culture, and Frenchmen Street is an iconic representation of what makes the city unique elsewhere in the world. It is a privilege to steward and invest in the renovation and restoration of The Frenchmen Hotel in a neighborhood that means a lot to locals and visitors alike, “said Thompson, Founder and CEO of Angevin & Co.” The new design of the The property will pay homage to its history and at the same time create an aesthetic that has its place in the structure of New Orleans’ an ever-evolving story – a story of what hospitality means in Nola, and one that cannot be complete without a strong chunk of the innovation shaken with history. ”
The Frenchmen was built on iconic Frenchmen Street in 1860 and the historic integrity of the building is preserved while it undergoes major renovations and reinterprets the property. Thompson and the Angevin & Co. team will:
- Make colorful updates in all 27 rooms with vintage carpets, inviting color schemes, and a nod to 1860s French art and the Montmartre spirit.
- Revitalize the two bar areas, drawing on Thompson’s in-depth knowledge of food and beverage service to curate a menu and setting that complement the institutions of Frenchmen Street while delivering a humble, artisanal beverage experience.
- Refresh the pool and outside areas with whimsical greenery in the courtyards and fresh colors in a mid-century aesthetic throughout the patio area.
The renovation approach will be holistic, using Thompson’s restaurant expertise alongside his lifelong passion for design history to create a connection between the hotel and the guest experience at its two bars.
The Frenchmen Hotel is expected to open to guests in the fourth quarter of 2021. For updates, follow The Frenchmen @frenchmen_hotel on Instagram and @FrenchmanHotel on Facebook.
About Anjou & Co.
Anjou & Co. focuses on delivering creatively inspired, neighborhood-centric hospitality experiences where our lobbies, bars and restaurants are the beating heart of our hotels. Led by a veteran of the hospitality industry, Robert Thompson, Angevin & Co. develops the concepts and operates boutique hotels and their bars, cafes and full-service restaurants across the country, from the Rocky Mountains to the southern United States, based in New Orleans, THE.
SOURCE Angevin & Co
