About the Montvale Hotel

The Montvale Hotel, Spokane’s premier boutique hotel destination, sits amid downtown Spokane’s bustling West First Avenue, at the center of an emerging arts and entertainment district. Dozens of restaurants, theaters and music options are all within a short walk from the hotel.

Today, the Montvale Hotel has been reborn into a dynamic new hotel destination. Its historic look, coupled with fashionable amenities makes the Montvale Hotel Spokane’s premier spot for fun, excitement and most importantly – a good night’s rest.

The Montvale’s art deco steel canopy, designed and built by Spokane artist Hazen Audel, the two story grand lobby featuring a large fireplace and cozy furniture, and the second and third floor glass atrium all give the hotel a distinctive atmosphere. You will be left with a lasting impression from the hotel’s unique mix of contemporary and historic furnishings in a classic setting.

History of the Montvale
Built in 1899 as the first in a series of buildings along West First Avenue, the Montvale Hotel remains one of the most visible buildings in the area. The Montvale stands as one of the city’s best examples of Spokane’s development at the turn of the century. With the demolition of the Pennington Wing at the Davenport Hotel, the Montvale has gained the distinction as Spokane’s oldest hotel.

Though the Montvale’s architect is unknown, it was built for John Binkley, a local judge. The Montvale Hotel was built to provide temporary housing for the swelling influx of miners and laborers to the Spokane area at the turn of the century. After years of use as a hotel and a youth hostel during Expo 74, the hotel sat dormant for 25 years. Broken windows, extensive water damage and the threat of demolition in favor of a parking lot almost ended the Montvale’s future.

ConoverBond Development President Rob Brewster bought the building in 1996 with the idea of returning the historic building to its original use. ConoverBond listed the building on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and in 1999, the main floor got its first modern day tenant, Farwest Billiards.

In 2002, the Catacombs Pub was opened in the basement of what was originally the hotel’s boiler room. The massive stone and brick walls once encased huge hotel boilers. Coal was delivered at the street level through a large chute that is now part of Catacombs cave seating area.

After ten months of construction and $3 million in renovation, financed by Spokane Teachers Credit Union, the Montvale Hotel opened January 2005 as Spokane’s premier hotel destination.