Hotels
For most of the 20th century Great Neck has had one or more hotels. The earliest hotels included the Krah Hotel, owned by Harry Krah on Middle Neck Road, the Brookdale Hotel and the Colony Hotel. They were handsomely designed structures, with various ornamental details including verandas, slate and ceramic tile roofs, ranging from Spanish Revival buildings to tall Colonial Revival structures. All were conveniently located near the train station. Owners included Joseph Homann who established a hotel on 3rd Street which later became Bond Street, and Ignatz Schwartz who operated his hotel on Station Plaza and Middle Neck Road. These were not the only hotels in Great Neck. According to the New York State excise tax commission, which collected all hotel taxes, there were 5 such establishments in the village near Arrandale Avenue and on Landing Road, where Steppingstone Park now sits.
For many years the hotels flourished, hosting prominent parties and celebrations. The last of these was the Colony Hotel. Formerly on Grace Avenue and Bond Street, it boasted 6-stories, a full-service restaurant and accommodations for several hundred people. It was popular among actors and theatre goers, along with local wheeler-dealers and speculators. In later years it declined, as it was converted to public housing for indigent residents in the surrounding communities. Eventually the building was cited for numerous health and building code violations and torn down in the early 1980s.
Today there are two well known modern hotels in the Village, the Andrew and the Inn at Great Neck. Like their predecessors, they are located within walking distance of the railroad station, hosting family gatherings and other celebrations.
For many years the hotels flourished, hosting prominent parties and celebrations. The last of these was the Colony Hotel. Formerly on Grace Avenue and Bond Street, it boasted 6-stories, a full-service restaurant and accommodations for several hundred people. It was popular among actors and theatre goers, along with local wheeler-dealers and speculators. In later years it declined, as it was converted to public housing for indigent residents in the surrounding communities. Eventually the building was cited for numerous health and building code violations and torn down in the early 1980s.
Today there are two well known modern hotels in the Village, the Andrew and the Inn at Great Neck. Like their predecessors, they are located within walking distance of the railroad station, hosting family gatherings and other celebrations.