Raleigh Magazine exclusively reveals name and design of area’s first Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel in Village District.
At once taking Raleigh’s boutique hotel experience next level and upping Village District’s hip factor is the area’s first Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel grab: the Oberlin Hotel. We first announced the Village District debut hotel on our Instagram. Now, we have the exclusive first look at never-before-seen renderings and details of the upscale property.
Situated at the intersection of Woodburn Road and Cameron Street in the heart of Village District (aka in the now defunct K&W locale), family-owned Winston-Salem-based Quality Oil Company LLC is unfurling a 115,000-square-foot charming boutique hotel, complete with a multiuser parking deck serving both the hotel and Village District.
With construction slated to begin this summer, the Oberlin Hotel is expected to take ~two years to complete, standing seven stories tall and serving up 153 well-appointed guest rooms, including presidential suites. Upon entry, the lobby will sate morning-to-night cravings via a market-style cafe dishing breakfast, spacious lounge and full cocktail bar, all open to the public as well.
Down the main corridor, meeting and banquet spaces accommodate myriad group sizes, while outside, a large courtyard awaits, complete with covered patio feat. a soundstage for live tunes, beverage service and event catering. And taking the experience to new heights, a signature high-end restaurant and rooftop bar, also open to the public, will showcase spectacular DTR vistas.
“Oberlin Hotel’s arrival to Village District is not only a great addition to our existing lineup, but also an overall benefit to the corridor,” said Chris Widmayer, senior VP of investments at Regency Centers. “This center is the beating heart of the market and now has a fantastic overnight option that helps make Village District a true 18-hour destination. We couldn’t be happier and encourage anyone looking to visit to see what sets them apart.”
And leaning into the Curio Collection by Hilton Hotels brand’s MO of boasting a global portfolio of handpicked hotels “for the curious,” with “no two Curio experiences the same,” the hotel is uniquely Raleigh—down to the hotel moniker itself, rooted deep in Raleigh history. The inspo for the hotel’s historic name dates back to the early 1860s Freedman’s Village established post-Emancipation, explains Bennett, and is drawn from the contributions of the brave men and women who formed the largest reconstruction-era settlement in Wake County.
“These folks made a lasting impact on Raleigh and the entire country because of what they achieved, and we think this special hotel will honor them and the Oberlin name” says Graham Bennett, president of Quality Oil Company—a near-100-year-old business you’d know from its Triangle Quality Mart and Quality Plus gas stations, as well as a Hampton Inn & Suites near PNC operated by its hospitality division, Quality Hospitality. “We are very excited to add this incredible property to our portfolio of award-winning hotels. From the amenities to the decor, and food and beverage offerings, this hotel will provide a truly unique and memorable experience guests will come back for.”
Beyond the distinctive branding, the hotel’s locale only serves to add to its allure. Village District—nee 1949 as Cameron Village shopping center—itself has a long, significant position on Raleigh’s hospitality scene, from its hip underground days to those famed blue awnings to its current iteration housing 100+ unique shops, cafes and services all proximal to the likes of NC State and the Hillsborough Street Corridor, Smoky Hollow, Glenwood South. And, don’t worry… while the hotel will up the luxe and livable factor of the burgeoning district, the strip—including local gems like Charlotte’s—will not be affected.
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