New York City's most iconic hotel is closing indefinitely - take a look back at its star-studded past
The Waldorf Astoria was originally two separate hotels that were created because of a feud between two cousins, William Waldorf Astor and John Jacob Astor IV. The two hotels were next door to one another on Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street. Eventually, the cousins were able to come to a truce, and they connected the hotels by hallway. The hotels were demolished in 1929 to make way for the Empire State Building, and the Waldorf Astoria name was sold for $1 to Lucius Boomer, who began construction on the hotel's current location.
The current hotel is located at 301 Park Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, and the primarily residential Waldorf Towers are situated at the top. When it opened in 1931, the new Waldorf Astoria was the tallest and largest hotel in the world.
President Herbert Hoover mentioned the brand-new hotel in a radio broadcast from the White House: "The opening of the new Waldorf Astoria ... marks the measure of nation's growth in power, in comfort and in artistry."
Source: Waldorf Astoria New York
Soon after opening, the Waldorf Astoria introduced 24-hour room service — a first in the history of hotels.
Excellent service has always been a top priority at the Waldorf Astoria. Maître d' Oscar Tschirky famously put his work above all else. Known as "Oscar of the Waldorf," Tschirky collected menus, many of which came from functions hosted at the hotel. The menus have since been donated to and preserved by Cornell University.
Tschirky is also known for creating the famous Waldorf salad, which typically contains apples, mayonnaise, celery, and walnuts. It's still served today at the famous Peacock Alley, which is one of three restaurants inside the Waldorf Astoria.
Over the years, a number of movies have been filmed inside the Waldorf Astoria, starting in 1945 with "Week-End at the Waldorf." It grossed over $4 million and ranked seventh at the box office that year.
Many major events have been thrown in the hotel's Grand Ballroom, a four-story, two-tier room that can host 1,500 guests under its 44-foot ceiling. Here's a shot from the National Republican Club's Lincoln Day Dinner of 1933, when President Herbert Hoover gave what he considered the farewell speech of his administration.
Elegant debutante balls have also taken place inside the Grand Ballroom, including this Cotillion and Christmas Ball of 1949.
Conrad Hilton acquired the Waldorf Astoria for $3 million in 1949. Hilton Worldwide would own the property until selling it to Anbang in 2014.
Source: The Chicago Tribune
President John F. Kennedy, who at the time was a Massachusetts senator, graced the ballroom during the Duchess of Windsor's Ball in 1953.
Actress Marilyn Monroe and then-husband Arthur Miller attended the "April in Paris" ball in 1957.
And an honorary dinner for Queen Elizabeth II was hosted in the Grand Ballroom in 1957.
The suites at the Waldorf Astoria are decorated just as decadently as the event spaces. Here is one of their suites, which start at $186 and can run up to $299 a night. The smallest suites are 450 square feet of space.
The suites in the tower portion of the hotel are larger and even more elegant. This one-bedroom Towers suite, for example, is 500 square feet with a separate living room area, and it starts at $715 a night. The penthouse-style suite, however, can go for up to $4,320 a night. Many notable names have owned condos in this section of the Waldorf Astoria.
There are three lobbies at the Waldorf Astoria, each originally meant for different categories of guests. This Park Avenue lobby entrance was built specifically for women and children, while the Lexington Avenue entrance was meant for gentlemen who might want quick access to the Peacock Alley lounge, which was smoking-friendly. The entrance on 49th Street is for those staying at the Waldorf Towers.
Source: Bloomberg
Known to colleagues as the "Grandmother of the Lobby," Sara Ashenafi has been working at the Waldorf Astoria for 38 years. Today, as a lobby ambassador, Ashenafi says she considers the Waldorf her home.
Ashenafi's role has shifted over the years, and she previously worked as a mail room receptionist and safety deposit box concierge. She fondly remembers many famous guests that she's interacted with during her time at the Waldorf Astoria, including Elizabeth Taylor.
Another regular she spoke of was the late Muhammad Ali. "Muhammad Ali was my favorite," she said. According to Ashenafi, Ali would call the lobby and request only to speak to female employees. "[He was] very friendly, we just love him," she said.
![Another regular she spoke of was the late Muhammad Ali. "Muhammad Ali was my favorite," she said. According to Ashenafi, Ali would call the lobby and request only to speak to female employees. "[He was] very friendly, we just love him," she said.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56341607,width-700,height-525,imgsize-62364/another-regular-she-spoke-of-was-the-late-muhammad-ali-muhammad-ali-was-my-favorite-she-said-according-to-ashenafi-ali-would-call-the-lobby-and-request-only-to-speak-to-female-employees-he-was-very-friendly-we-just-love-him-she-said-.jpg)
The man behind the 49th Street entrance is Michael Romei, who's been with the Waldorf Astoria as chief concierge since 1994. Romei has essentially written the book on what a modern concierge should be. In the early '90s, Romei made sure that Frank Sinatra received freshly baked bread from Vesuvio Bakery daily. Romei has helped guests with such absurd requests as arranging a nude skydiving appointment, purchasing bakery equipment and shipping it to Ethiopia, and delivering blood oranges to Mexico for a film project.
One of Romei's most memorable times at the Waldorf Towers was when he met the Dalai Lama. "I was blessed twice by the Dalai Lama, and we had thousands of people outside the hotel burning incense and chanting and throwing flower petals. He blessed me and gave me one of his prayer clothes, which I still have," he said.
Towers Concierge David Ibarra has also had a handful of memorable experiences while on staff. Part of the team since 1988, Ibarra came to the Waldorf Astoria after working at Pan Am. He worked closely with Frank Sinatra and Jean MacArthur, General MacArthur's widow, when they lived at the towers. One of Ibarra's most memorable nights involved going out for a drink with Sinatra at a nearby bar.
According to Ibarra, Mrs. Sinatra had requested that Mr. Sinatra be back early. "[Frank Sinatra] has a history of getting excited and flinging a chair here and there," Ibarra said. "So we sit down [at the bar] and he is relaxed and everything's fun, and then he goes, 'There's no live music here. Get the manager!'" Luckily, Ibarra knew Sinatra well, and he mentioned that the manager's wife was expecting a child soon. That changed Sinatra's demeanor completely, and he began reminiscing about fatherhood and raising his own children.
![According to Ibarra, Mrs. Sinatra had requested that Mr. Sinatra be back early. "[Frank Sinatra] has a history of getting excited and flinging a chair here and there," Ibarra said. "So we sit down [at the bar] and he is relaxed and everything](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56341603,width-700,height-525,imgsize-78136/according-to-ibarra-mrs-sinatra-had-requested-that-mr-sinatra-be-back-early-frank-sinatra-has-a-history-of-getting-excited-and-flinging-a-chair-here-and-there-ibarra-said-so-we-sit-down-at-the-bar-and-he-is-relaxed-and-everythings-fun-and-then-he-goes-theres-no-live-music-here-get-the-manager-luckily-ibarra-knew-sinatra-well-and-he-mentioned-that-the-managers-wife-was-expecting-a-child-soon-that-changed-sinatras-demeanor-completely-and-he-began-reminiscing-about-fatherhood-and-raising-his-own-children-.jpg)
Another longtime staffer is Sonny Koltovski, who's been working behind the lobby bar, Sir Harry's Champagne Bar, for over 35 years. Koltovski has served a number of famous guests, including actor Roger Moore, baseball player Keith Hernandez of the Mets (who came in with Jerry Seinfeld), The Allman Brothers Band, Kelsey Grammer, and Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
One of his most proud moments was getting his own cocktail, the "Waldorf Sunset," which was later featured in Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Made with orange juice and white creme de cacao, the drink tastes like a creamsicle. While creating this recipe, Koltovski said, "I was focusing more on the ladies."
While the future of the hotel and towers is uncertain, its place in history will certainly continue to be significant.
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