Onset’s historic Glen Cove Hotel to open on Jan. 17
The Glen Cove Hotel in Onset will open its doors to the public on Jan. 17. Reservations for rooms after March 1 can be made online now. Photo by: Meghan Neely
From left: Owner John Salerno, General Manager Crystal Sabella and Head Chef Abe Duval stand in the Glen Cove Hotel’s newly renovated restaurant. Photo by: Meghan Neely
The Bay Room Restaurant at the Glen Cove Hotel. Photo by: Meghan Neely
One of 14 redesigned guest rooms at the Glen Cove Hotel. Photo by: Meghan Neely
The 1883 Lounge at the Glen Cove Hotel. Photo by: Meghan Neely
The Glen Cove Hotel in Onset will open its doors to the public on Jan. 17. Reservations for rooms after March 1 can be made online now. Photo by: Meghan Neely
From left: Owner John Salerno, General Manager Crystal Sabella and Head Chef Abe Duval stand in the Glen Cove Hotel’s newly renovated restaurant. Photo by: Meghan Neely
The Bay Room Restaurant at the Glen Cove Hotel. Photo by: Meghan Neely
One of 14 redesigned guest rooms at the Glen Cove Hotel. Photo by: Meghan Neely
The 1883 Lounge at the Glen Cove Hotel. Photo by: Meghan Neely
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A historic Onset landmark will reopen on Jan. 17 after a massive, years long renovation.
Purchased in 2012 by the Salerno family—owners of Marc Anthony's Pizzeria and Salerno's Seaside Function Hall —The Glen Cove hotel at 167 Onset Ave. now has 14 redesigned guest rooms, a lounge, and a restaurant with a capacity for more than 100 people.
“I think the cat is out of the bag when it comes to Onset,” said hotel owner John Salerno. “We’re not a hidden gem anymore, and it’s time to get this place back on the map.”
Built in 1863 as a private summer retreat, the iconic yellow building first became a hotel in 1880s. Known as the Glen Cove House, it was a popular spot for boaters coming to and from Boston.
The section of beach in front of the hotel was its “front yard" with bath houses where guests could rent bathing suits and other items.
The hotel also featured its own boat house and docks until the 1930s.
Since then, the property has gone through several name changes, renovations and expansions.
Most recently to the Salerno family, the building was owned and operated by David Wolfram and Emily Gilmore under the name Wickets Inn & Pub.
Wolfram, who purchased the building in 2009, abruptly closed the hotel’s doors in 2010, filing for bankruptcy shortly thereafter.
The hotel, with its adjacent pub and outdoor tiki bar, then fell victim to foreclosure. The property sat vacant until August of 2012.
“It’s been a lot of hard work to get things up and running again,” said Salerno. “But things are finally coming together.”
The original opening of the hotel was planned for April 2013, but Salerno said the process of modernizing the building was more complicated than anyone expected.
“We needed to add an elevator,” Salerno said. “And we had to put sprinklers throughout the entire building as well as pull stations. Once we were in that deep, we decided we might as well redo the whole thing.”
The permitting process to demolish the tiki bar and pool at the hotel was also time consuming.
The completed hotel now has a much a wider range of amenities, including private off street parking, balconies, Wi-Fi and a multipurpose conference room.
Starting Jan. 17, the 1883 Lounge at the Glen Cove Hotel will be open to patrons Thursday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., serving drinks and a full menu of food until midnight.
Salerno said the plan is to expand the hours at the 1883 Lounge to seven days a week for the public, keeping the hotel open year round. Guests interested in staying at the hotel can make reservations now for dates after March 1.
Salerno said the hotel will also promote live entertainment with its first performer, Mike Rollins & Co., making their Glen Cove debut on Sunday, Jan. 20.
To see more photos of the newly restored Hotel or to book a room, visit www.glencoveonsetbeach.com
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