Point Richmond is a quiet community with homes stretching south from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on both sides of a ridge, which forms an amphitheater with the heart of town as the stage. Three short streets in the heart of town form a triangle that points at the Hotel Mac.
By Mary Swift Swan
Published: October, 2005
Point Richmond is a quiet community with homes stretching south from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on both sides of a ridge, which forms an amphitheater with the heart of town as the stage. Three short streets in the heart of town form a triangle that points at the Hotel Mac.
Hotel Mac has been a landmark of Point Richmond for nearly 95 years. The three-story, brick building was built in 1911 to serve diners and care for boarders. The establishment was renamed in the 1930’s, when purchased by M.V. McAfee, former manager of the Claremont Hotel. Notorious food-critic, Duncan Hines, had acclaimed Hotel Mac as one of the exceptional dining establishments in the country.
Pre-WWII, the city of Richmond had around 20,000 people. After Pearl Harbor was bombed, Richmond became a war machine. Almost overnight, the population jumped 500%, when over 100,000 people came to the area to build tanks, trucks and ships. During that time, clientele and rooms for elegant dining faded away, along with Hotel Mac’s sparkle.
In 1971, a fire closed Hotel Mac. The nearly-hollow, shell of a building sadly stood that way, for seven years. Then in 1978, Bill Burnett (then general manager of five Rusty Pelican’s) and Griff Brazil, one of Burnett’s favorite restaurant managers, joined two others in purchasing the property, with the intent to reclaim Hotel Mac’s glory days.
First, they dismantled the brick smokestack in the back then began restoration. Armed with photos from the original period of elegance, the partners had stained glass windows made for the main dining area. They purchased period furnishings, designed a classic long bar, created a gathering area opposite the bar and added a balcony above it for expanded dining, and dug out the partly subterranean wine cellar, making room for more dining and fine wine.
Initially, the upper two stories of the building were being rented out as office space. That space was vacated seven years ago, which gave the partners the opportunity to add the last piece of restoration. They created an enjoyable boutique hotel with seven rooms and three suites, most with fireplaces, that rent between $95 and $160 a night. Hotel Mac is a warm, fun and graceful place, open 7 days a week. The restaurant features wonderful food choices and a steady menu of welcoming touches: a happy hour spread, monthly special events, seasonal open parties and wine and cocktail tastings.
