January 4–10, 2019, Vol. 12, Issue 1 New restaurants spreading across Germantown in the State Sen. Raumesh Akbari sponsors Senate version of new year, attracting local and national concepts P. 3 sports betting legislation in Tennessee P. 5 FORMERLY THE MEMPHIS NEWS FAYETTE • TIPTON • MADISON Construction workers put the finishing touches on rooms at the new Hotel Indigo. The project used the structural bones of an early Holiday Inn and former Econo Lodge at Court and B.B. King Boulevard. (Houston Cofield/The West Tennessee News) Hotel Indigo RETROMemphis readies slice of authenticity forCHIC 2019 debut P. 2 VENEZUELANS NICVIEW GIVES HELP MUSICIANS 24/7 ACCESS Venezolanos en Memphis Baptist NICU provides members offer support and cameras with a live-stream raise local awareness in the view to parents and loved Memphis community P. 3 ones who can't be there P. 7 A Publication of The Daily News Publishing Co. 2 January 4–10, 2019 The West Tennessee News Hotel Indigo Memphis readies slice of authenticity for 2019 debut with the Indigo brand. Wall treatments and area rugs pull together bold shades of coral, gold and turquoise. LED lighting beneath the bed- frame switches on automatically in low light conditions. A sliding door of translucent white glass separates bedroom from bath, which includes a walk-in shower with a rain for- est-style shower head and Aveda brand soap and toiletries. The rooms have WiFi supplied by high- speed fiber optic lines, an array of power and USB plugs built into bedside tables and a bar area with Keurig coffee maker. Smart TVs enable guests to use their own Netflix, Hulu and other accounts. The décor is musical in theme. Behind the headboard, the wall is covered by an extreme closeup of a recording studio microphone. Photos of vinyl records on a shelf and a radio tuner hang on a wall. Wall graphics in the first floor fitness cen- ter are radio dial numbers. Jordan said the lobby Rock-Ola, one of only 99 made in the Elvis Presley mo- tif, will be stocked with CDs made in Memphis or by artists with Memphis ties. When the jukebox isn’t playing, the blues will play on the hotel sound system. Guest rooms at Hotel Indigo contain a music-inspired vinyl wall that pays homage to the city's musical heritage. “The furnishings, the A mural in the parking garage depicts building itself, it’s all retro,” said general manager Patrick Jordan. “We’re hitting on all cylinders to give people a real Memphis vibe.” the history of Memphis music. (Houston Cofield/The West Tennessee News) The hotel’s 50 employees will share WAYNE RISHER The West Tennessee News ‘No two Hotel Indigos are alike’ Nothing says retro like a classic 1960s The new Indigo joins more than 94 motor hotel that has been repurposed as properties in the Indigo lifestyle hotel Memphis’ first Hotel Indigo. niche developed by InterContinental Ho- A $15 million conversion of the un- tels Group, which includes Holiday Inn, likely historic landmark into an upscale, the Memphis-born lodging chain founded boutique hotel is nearing completion, by Kemmons Wilson in the 1950s. and the first guests are due to arrive “No two Hotel Indigos are alike,” Jor- early in the New Year. dan said. “Each hotel is a representation of The project has created a virtual the community it’s in. This will be a Mem- time capsule using the structural bones phis neighborhood hotel with the benefits of an early Holiday Inn and former Econo of an international brand and reservation Lodge at Court and B.B. King Boulevard. system behind it.” Glass walls have been added to enclose Kemmons Wilson put his first Holiday the 55-year-old lobby and breezeway Inn in Downtown Memphis in a build- that connected a six-level parking ga- ing that was originally conceived as an rage to outdoor elevators and the street. office and parking annex for the now- “Hotel Lobby” in stenciled lettering vacant office tower the Sterick Building marks the spot where guests checked in next door. to the Econo Lodge, which was built in That’s why this Hotel Indigo has an 1963 as Downtown’s first Holiday Inn. unusual configuration. At street level Lucy Santana (left), executive housekeeper at Hotel Indigo, gives a tour to a potential employee. As part of the boutique hotel's musical theme, the hotel’s 50 employees The former guest check-in area now are the lobby and a restaurant space, will share their favorite Memphis artists with guests. Employee nametags will list the holds a lounge with casual seating, big which is still under renovation for a employee’s favorite Memphis artist. (Houston Cofield/The West Tennessee News) screen TV, laptop-ready end tables and new restaurant by Memphis chef Ryan electronic charging stations. It’s part of Trimm. The restaurant should open in a larger, open-floorplan lobby that hides February, followed later by a lounge in on Dec. 27, and hotel management with their favorite Memphis artists with nothing from view. the basement. Expotel Hospitality Services was prepar- guests. “Employee nametags will list the A second seating area centers on an Parking is on floors 2-7, and 119 ing for guests to arrive Jan. 3. employee’s favorite Memphis artist. Mine Elvis-themed Rock-Ola jukebox. The guest rooms are divided among floors Until the restaurant opens, on-site happens to be Otis Redding,” Jordan said. guest services desk resides beneath a 8-10. Half the rooms face the surround- food service will be limited to grab-and- On Friday, Dec. 28, rooms at Hotel In- large, circular LED light. And the ho- ing cityscape and half face a courtyard, go items such as sandwiches, snacks and digo in late January were going for $191 tel’s business center is in the center of where a pool and cabana bar occupy the baked goods. to $207 a night. things, a long countertop overlooking eighth floor. a walkway between parking garage and Atlanta-area developer 3 P Partners Old footprint, new surroundings Part of Holiday Inn’s storied past street. has worked with Memphis architects Guest rooms, available with king beds It’s a far cry from the Holiday Inn “The furnishings, the building itself, brg3s and contractor SouthCore Con- or two queen beds, were kept within the or even the Econo Lodge, which oper- it’s all retro,” said general manager Pat- struction on the renovation, which is original hotel’s room layout but complete- ated at the location, 22 North B.B. King rick Jordan. “We’re hitting on all cylin- winding down, but not completely fin- ly rebuilt and outfitted with premium fix- ders to give people a real Memphis vibe.” ished. The reservation website went live tures, furnishings and decor associated Hotel Indigo continued on P8 The West Tennessee News January 4–10, 2019 3 Venezuelans living in Memphis help aspiring musicians at home ELLE PERRY a number of ways – from being Health Science Center. The West Tennessee News part of Latino Memphis or local Siblings Diego and Antoni- When members of the local Spanish language news media to etta Rodriguez, both Venezuelan Venezuelan alliance Venezola- owning local car dealerships or cellists and recent University of nos en Memphis learn of a fellow restaurants. Memphis graduates, partnered countryperson arriving in Mem- Five years ago, Venezolanos with Venezolanos en Memphis phis, often with nothing, they en Memphis became more politi- to launch an initiative called provide everything from cloth- cally active to support efforts of Strings for Life, which collects ing and mattresses to referrals individuals living in Venezuela used instrument strings to send for housing support. and raise local awareness about to Venezuela. Last month, the United Na- what is happening there. The In the past two weeks, musi- tions announced the number of organization has participated cians from all over the U.S. have refugees and migrants who had alongside other groups in collect- mailed them more than 200 sets. left Venezuela had reached nearly ing medicine, food and clothes for “Venezuela is going through 3 million. Reuters reported that Venezuelans. a very tough economic situation, most of those individuals had For those in Memphis, the one that prevents people from emigrated since 2015, driven by group has held Christmas par- being able to fulfill even their Cellist Diego Rodriguez (right) and trumpeter Nobel Del Mar perform reasons that included violence, ties, folkloric music events, gath- most basic needs,” Blanco said. during a concert at Casa Leon event center on Dec. 27, 2018, to raise hyperinflation, and food and erings and social events where “Musical instrument strings are, awareness for Strings for Life, which collects strings for struggling medicine shortages. people can sell goods and Ven- therefore, rare to find and nearly musicians in Venezuela. (Jim Weber/The West Tennessee News) Leaders of Venezolanos en ezuelan dishes are served. impossible to afford. Memphis estimate that more Last year, the group partici- “Hundreds of aspiring musi- a free strings concert Thursday, nothing. If we have the opportu- than 3,000 Venezuelans now call pated in an international refer- cians, especially the younger kids Dec. 27, at the Casa León event nity and the means to help, why Memphis home. endum, with nearly 1,000 Ven- who are members of El Sistema venue on Shelby Oaks Drive. They not do it? ... Somebody is going The group began as a Face- ezuelans voting from Memphis. (of Orchestras of Venezuela), are were joined by Lucy Del Mar on to use these strings and some- book page in 2011.