Back in 1969--what must have been a swinging time in Venice--the Best Western hotel opened at 1697 Pacific Avenue. Fast forward to 2008, and the San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre Hotel Group took over management of the 119-room hotel, renaming the development the Marina Pacific Hotel. And five months later, there's been another name changed: It's now called the Hotel Erwin after the hotel's owner, Erwin Sokol. It's officially open now, but there's a big launch party scheduled for October, according to Jairo Torres, director of sales. (The launch party was originally scheduled for next month). According to blog Yo Venice, there's also a new restaurant and lounge forthcoming. Doesn't sound like Venice wants to break free from the stereotypes surrounding its neighborhood: "The hotel will have a rooftop lounge called HIGH, offering 360-degree views, as well as a small restaurant called HASH, where the seasonal dishes will be made straight from farmer’s market ingredients." Both the lounge and restaurant should be open by early July, according to Torres. Rooms start at $149.
Venice's Best Western Reborn as Hotel Erwin
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