Handlery Hotels History

In 1902, a young 14-year-old Ukrainian boy named Harry arrived at Ellis Island in New York after enduring a three-week journey in steerage. Unable to speak English and without a job, he adopted the name Harry upon his arrival in America. Soon after, he relocated to Boston to join his older brother Herschel. Fascinated by the prospects in California, Harry made the move to Vallejo in 1907 or 1908, where he found employment at a hat store. With unwavering ambition and grit, he eventually became the proprietor of the store.

In his early twenties, Harry married Rose Braun, and the couple welcomed two sons, Raymond in 1913 and Paul in 1920. The turning point came in 1928 when Harry, along with two other investors, acquired Casa de Vallejo, a hotel. After the appointed general manager’s unsatisfactory performance, Harry assumed control and ultimately became the sole owner. He expanded his business to encompass hotels in San Francisco, Oakland, and Richmond, while gradually involving his sons in the operations.

Tragedy struck in 1934 when Harry’s older son, Raymond, succumbed to a bacterial infection. This heartbreaking loss prompted Harry to entrust the family business to his surviving son, Paul. In contrast to his father, Paul had the opportunity to pursue a quality education and graduated from Cornell University’s hotel school in 1942. However, his studies were cut short when he was drafted into the Army’s Quartermaster Corps during World War II. Paul served as a captain in Fort Ord, Monterey, and later in Honolulu, where he met his future wife, Ardyce Lundquist.

During the period of war, the economy of California experienced a significant surge, and Harry Handlery skillfully led his company to greater success. Recognizing the urgent need for temporary housing for military personnel and their families stationed near California’s military bases, he swiftly began acquiring property and hotels in strategic locations near bases in Stockton, Bakersfield, Fresno, Monterey, and San Diego. At its peak, he owned 26 hotels, all situated in California. By 1954, Handlery Hotels stood as the largest family-owned hotel company in the world.

Following the conclusion of the Korean War, the demand for hotels near military bases decreased. In response, Harry and his son Paul made the decision to sell off older properties and explore new business endeavors. In order to ensure effective management, Harry relocated to San Diego to pursue a new venture as a developer, while his son oversaw the Bay Area hotels from San Francisco.

In 1951, Harry made a significant acquisition by purchasing the iconic El Cortez Hotel for $1,500,000.00. As the tallest building in San Diego at that time, he had ambitious plans to transform it into the finest hotel along the Pacific Coast and the centerpiece of a new development complex. This became his thirteenth hotel and, according to some accounts, his most beloved. In fact, he even chose to reside there. Harry possessed a deep understanding of the American public and accurately anticipated the shift in preferences from downtown hotels to roadside motels, the impact of suburban growth on the hotel business, and the emergence of a new category of clients, particularly business travelers attending conventions or sales meetings. The El Cortez was designed to cater to all these needs. It provided affordable spaces for wedding receptions and banquets, an elegant dining room for special occasions, and an awe-inspiring 12th-floor club boasting a panoramic view. Harry continued to expand and enhance the hotel, introducing the first of several swimming pools in 1952, an eight-story Caribbean wing with 100 rooms in 1954, the Starlight Room in 1956, and three large motels by 1959. The El Cortez complex ultimately became the unofficial convention center for the city of San Diego.

To add a touch of excitement to the experience of visiting the 12th-floor restaurant, the Starlight Room, and the 15th-floor bar, the Sky Room, Harry installed the world’s second exterior glass elevator, which he aptly named the Starlight Express. 

The development featured a thrilling ride to the top and a panoramic view, with long lines forming as excited visitors waited for their turn. The world’s first Travolator was installed on a bridge to connect the hotels across busy Seventh Avenue. This flat escalator or moving sidewalk, common in airports today, was a remarkable piece of technology in the 1950s. The innovator behind these creations was noted architect C. J. Paderewski. Harry, the owner, was deeply involved in every aspect of the complex, from helping the wait staff to clearing tables and mixing drinks at the bar during rush hour. 

Apart from these ventures, Harry acquired the Mission Valley Golf Course and developed an exclusive resort and country club, the only one of its kind in the area. The Stardust Hotel and Country Club opened in 1956 with 225 rooms, a 27-hole golf course, and luxurious amenities. This included the Reef Lounge, a cocktail bar with an underwater view of a pool where synchronized swimmers performed nightly.

In San Francisco, Paul Handlery pursued his own project by opening the Handlery Motor Inn beside the Hotel Stewart, which his father had purchased in 1948. This elegant 93-room hotel offered modern luxuries such as in-room coffee makers, bedside remote control for television and radio, an outdoor heated pool, on-site valet parking, a separate vanity area with lighted makeup mirrors, and outside balconies. At that time, rooms could be rented for $9 a night. 

Following Harry’s passing in 1965, Paul became the company president. He and his wife had five children, all of whom worked in the hotels as they grew up. Sons Michael and Jon, in particular, gained early experience by cleaning hotel rooms and later attended Cornell University’s School of Hotel Management, graduating in 1974 and 1978, respectively. Paul encouraged them to work at other hotels before joining the family business. Both sons followed this advice, with Michael briefly working at the Fairmont Hotel chain and Jon with Hyatt.

 Recognizing the evolving hotel industry, Paul sold the El Cortez complex in downtown San Diego in 1978. The Stardust Hotel and Country Club underwent several name changes until it was rebranded as the Handlery Hotel and Resort in the mid-1990s. In 1987, the Hotel Stewart and the Handlery Motor Inn were merged and transformed into the Handlery Union Square Hotel. 

This family story embodies the American Dream, with Harry, a poor immigrant boy, finding success and providing a better life for his children. Paul followed in his footsteps, passing on the family business to his sons. Jon, in particular, has taken on leadership roles within the company, becoming General Manager of Handlery Union Square Hotel in 1996 and President of Handlery Hotels in 2008. He aims to continue this legacy and hopes to have his children, including his son Jack and his daughter Laura, carry on the family tradition as the fourth generation of Handlery hoteliers.

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