More than once endangered, it was reborn with future ensured
OCEAN CITY — “It’s a really emotional thing for those of us who were here when it was bankrupt — and we really believed it would close,” Kim Maguire, a member of The Flanders Centennial Gala Committee and a former condominium owner, said Wednesday.
The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Jay Gillian cut a ceremonial ribbon Sept. 20 to mark the 100th anniversary of The Flanders Hotel at 719 E. 11th St.
The grand oceanfront hotel that is one of the most recognizable landmarks on the island was in dire straits when the current leadership took over in 2005 and began the slow process of stabilizing, restoring and upgrading the extensive facilities.
“We were here for all of the trouble and the near-shutdown and Ocean City Partners buying parts of the hotel and us having to set up a desk in the lobby because the front desk had been sold to someone,” Maguire said. “We contributed more in assessments. We just wanted to save it. It was such a fabulous place and it was going to be torn down.”
“It is so exciting and rewarding. A lot of people thought we would never get here, and to get here is just magnificent, absolutely magnificent,” Peter Voudouris, director of Hotel and Banquet Operations, said ahead of a luncheon for members of the media during which he presented highlights from the storied history of the hotel, its preservation and its enduring connection to the community.
Voudouris also reported on the hotel’s recent recognition by various organizations, its plans for the future and the Centennial Gala, set for Nov. 18.
The event will include antique cars lining 11th Street, a warm welcome by an impeccably dressed doorman, skilled butlers serving hors d’oeuvres, carving stations, a seafood raw bar, desserts and live entertainment.
Proceeds will benefit the Ocean City Historical Society. Tickets are $150 per person.
100 years of history
Built in 1923 as the “Jewel of the Southern New Jersey Shore,” the oceanfront Flanders is a thriving all-suites, full-service hotel offering the best of modern amenities steeped in the elegance and romantic allure of 1920s American luxury.
According to a news release, The Flanders is no ordinary resort hotel and the Centennial Gala is no ordinary celebration of longevity.
During much of its rich history, the hotel’s current stability, prosperity and acclaim would have been unimaginable. At its heart, the story is a celebration of triumph over adversity, reverence for the achievements of the past and determined preservation of a valuable landmark.
The Flanders, so named in honor of American veterans of World War I who fought and died at Flanders Field, survived the 1927 boardwalk fire, the Great Depression, World War II, multiple bankruptcies, forfeiture of land and precious antique furnishings, several lawsuits, the crippling expense of maintaining outdated interior facilities and exterior structures, the evolving tastes of contemporary vacationers, numerous ownership changes, decades of poor management. But by the mid-1900s, the hotel was in foreclosure and was forced to close May 8, 1995.
That year, a new owner purchased and renovated the hotel, converting the guest rooms into spacious one- and two-bedroom condominiums. These changes held promise of a bright future but were no match for the building’s hundreds of code violations, deteriorating and unusable banquet facilities, incomplete renovations, shuttered retail spaces and private ownership of the hotel’s common areas — liabilities that continued to plague The Flanders into the early 2000s.
By February 2005, the hotel’s crumbling facade prompted the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to notify owners that unless it was repaired, the building would have to close again.
Facing losses of $500,000 per year, bills in excess of $300,000, numerous legal claims, a collapsing pool deck, as well as the above-mentioned issues, condo owners and board members were court-ordered to hold a special board election.
Vourdouris was elected board president, and the renaissance of this grand hotel began in earnest.
In the ensuing 18 years, Voudouris has applied his business acumen and managerial skills to guide the hotel’s rebirth, negotiating construction loans, fostering owner collaboration and contribution through assessments, creating new partnerships, acquiring historical registration and devoting countless hours to the work of restoring the hotel.
From the beginning, Voudouris’ wife, Arlene, volunteered alongside her husband. She employed her flair for aesthetics to redecorating and adorning all of the hotel’s public spaces with historic integrity, instituting the highest standards for guest room conditions and sourcing the toiletries and personal care items discerning guests expect in a luxury hotel.
She has devoted many years to restoring and enhancing the welcoming charm of The Flanders, and her elegant touch is evident in every aspect of the hotel’s physical appearance and in the numerous ongoing popular events she created that have become a proud, integral part of the Flanders tradition.
The bustling splendor and distinguished reputation of The Flanders today bears no resemblance to the tanged web of debt, litigation and disrepair of 18 years ago. Once the home of hundreds of code violations, the entire hotel complex was recently certified as a U.L. Verified Healthy Building for excellent air quality, following an independent audit that included on-site visual inspections and performance testing.
One of the largest employers in Ocean City for the past decade, The Flanders employs more than 120 people each season, and hosts more than 100,000 visitors each year as overnight, wedding, or high tea guests; as one of more than 400 members of its upscale supper club; or as patrons of the Shoppes at the Flanders, Emily’s Restaurant, Coffee Express and the Divine Images Salon.
The hotel has a rich history and was placed on the Nation Register of Historic Places in 2009.
Celebrity guests have included actor Jimmy Stewart, actress Grace Kelly, U.S. Vice President Charles Curtis, illustrator Al Capp and the Lit Brothers.
It boasts a blend of vintage charm and modern amenities, offering guests a taste of the elegance of hospitality of the past while providing all the comforts of the present.
Each suite is equipped with a private bedroom and full kitchen complete with all the necessary appliances to make one’s stay as comfortable as possible.
The hotel offers a wide range of amenities, such as banquet and meeting space, family-friendly dining and spa treatments. The hotel also features an outdoor heated pool, as well as a fitness center and 24-hour business center.
Ribbon-cutting ceremony
Michelle Gillian, executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“What a great day for Ocean City, New Jersey — 100 years of The Flanders,” she said, calling it one of the most famous landmarks in the city.
“You’ve got the beach, the boardwalk. You’ve got the bay and the Ocean City Flanders,” she said, noting her brother and sister each got married at the hotel.
“We can’t thank you enough for all The Flanders has done for Ocean City,” Gillian said.
She noted the city officials and other prominent members of the community present. They included her husband Mayor Jay Gillian, Councilmen Jody Levchuk and Terry Crowley, Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, County Commissioner Bobby Barr, Councilwoman Karen Bergman and Council President Peter Madden.
Others were music director and conductor of the Ocean City Pops Vincent Lee, president of the Ocean City Historic Society John Loeper and president of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Bill McMahon.
“We have so many people from the community that feel The Flanders is part of their history as well,” Gillian said.
The Chamber’s participation was significant, since it was that body that lobbied the city government and other groups to support the hotel’s construction in 1922.
According to information provided by The Flanders, the chamber formed the Ocean Front Hotel Corp., a group of 24 businessmen and prominent citizens. The OCFC concluded that a grand hotel would revive interest in the resort, and city residents assumed a large part of the financial responsibility.
The mayor also spoke.
“This is a landmark. It’s an anchor on the Boardwalk. It’s an anchor in Ocean City,” Mayor Gillian said. “Nothing gets done in Ocean City without coming through the Flanders. Over 100 years, how many things have been done here? I think every organization has been here. There are so many people, so many weddings. This is a place that just keeps on going, which is a testament to the ownership.”
Bergman, who worked for the hotel for 13 years, said it plays such a prominent role in the city.
“It’s exciting to have a hotel have the longevity that it has and the history behind this and the beauty behind this and the architecture. They don’t build buildings like this anymore,” she said.
McClellan, who grew up on the island, later served as a city councilman and now represents the resort in the state Assembly, said the hotel holds a special place in his heart. His mother worked in the hotel’s laundry when he was young and he later held his wedding reception and family reunions there.
“My family loves to come and stay here and I love to come and stay here,” he said. “It’s just a beautiful hotel, not only for the city and the county but for the state. Everybody knows about the Flanders and knows the historic value it has for Ocean City and hopefully it will be here for another hundred years.”
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff