Parliament House Motor Inn
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The Parliament House Motor Inn chain was started by Kansas City, Missouri investors Ned Eddy and his sons Ned, Jr. and James. They started in the food and beverages business running the successful Eddy’s Restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri. They gave the Parliament House properties an English royalty theme with the slogan, "Built for the House of Lords... priced for the House of Commons." Their goal was a nine city chain by 1964. They never made their goal and filed for bankruptcy on June 8, 1965 when they claimed to operate 8 properties. They listed liabilities of $5 million in the court filings.
Locations
Orlando, Florida
The 120 room lakeside motor inn in
The Parliament House Motor Inn was popular spot for meetings and weddings. It was used by nearby Tupperware World Headquarters for meetings, was the site of numerous Florida Voters League meetings, and the NAACP legislative conference.
In 1972, Jim Ritter, the assistant manager, was quoted as saying “May’s always been dead around here and 1972 is no different, but we expect to be booked full two weeks ahead all summer” referring to the recent opening of
By 1975 the motor inn was near bankruptcy when the owners were approached by Bill Miller and Michael Hodge who purchased the Parliament House for $648,000 on March 27, 1975 and transformed the location into a gay and lesbian resort, now the Parliament House Resort.
Unfortunately the Parliament House Motor Inn in Orlando Florida is the last Parliament House property to close under the original name. Years of mismanagement, declining sales and bankruptcies forced the location to close on November 2, 2020. Demolition began on January 4, 2021, lasting around 6 weeks before the entire property was completely demolished. The city of Orlando has succeeded in saving the iconic sign, which will be on display in the history museum.
Birmingham, Alabama
Parliament House Hotel was an 11-story, 237-room hotel which occupied the west side of 20th Street South between 4th and 5th Avenues (420 South 20th Street) from 1964 to 2008 in Birmingham, Alabama. It opened for guests on January 2, 1964. It featured the Baron of Beef Restaurant, Sidewalk Cafe, Cork Room, and Once a Knight Lounge.
Ned Eddy and his sons Ned, Jr and James of Kansas City purchased the hotel while it was under construction as the crown of their Parliament House chain. Guest room telephones were among the first to feature direct room-to-room calling and a flashing message light.
It was imploded on February 17, 2008.[1]
Clearwater Beach, Florida
The first 120 room beach front Parliament House in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The Parliament House Lake Shore
Augusta, Georgia
Construction of the 120 room
Atlanta, Georgia
That
Panama City, Florida
The 100 room Parliament Inn was located at Sunnyside Beach, 20450 W. Hwy 98. It featured the M'Lord restaurant and Gaucho lounge.
References
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
- ^ The New York Times November 18, 1962
- ^ Associated Press
- ^ Orlando Sentinel 2-10-62
- ^ St Petersburg Times 6-15-66
- ^ St Petersburg Times 8-24-67
- ^ St Petersburg Times 9-30-64
- ^ St Petersburg Times 10-23-63
- ^ St Petersburg Times 8-21-65
- ^ Miami News 5-15-72
- ^ Ocala Star 4-23-71
- ^ Independent 9-28-66
- ^ Independent 9-7-63