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Shenandoah Mansions hotel secures ABC license in Richmond

Shenandoah Mansions hotel secures ABC license in Richmond

Rule Changes Richmond, VA local

Boutique hotel in Fan District sets New Year's Eve opening, with Brittanny Anderson leading its restaurants

6 days ago: Opening set for New Year's Eve

Overview

Updated 5 days ago

Shenandoah Mansions will open for guests on Dec. 31, 2026, and reservations opened Nov. 5, Ash Hotels said. The 73-room boutique hotel at 501 N. Allen Ave. in the Fan District has been in the works since 2021.

Richmond chef Brittanny Anderson will lead three food and drink spots there: Daughter, a fine-dining restaurant; Phone Inn, a cocktail bar; and Shenandoah Café, an all-day cafe. The cafe is set to open with the hotel, while Daughter and Phone Inn are planned for early 2027. Standard rates start at $290.

Why it matters

The opening adds 73 hotel rooms and three restaurants to the Fan District, with reservations already open.

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Key Indicators

73
Guest rooms
The hotel's website lists 73 guest rooms including four suites.
6
Stories
The six-story building was formerly a senior living facility.
5
Years in development
Ash Hotels has worked on the conversion since 2021; the hotel is set to open Dec. 31, 2026.
$2M+
Disputed contractor claim
CK Bosworth Construction alleged Ash owed it more than $2 million for unpaid work.
$290
Starting nightly rate
Standard rates start at $290, according to Ash Hotels.

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People Involved

Brittanny Anderson
Brittanny Anderson
Chef and culinary partner, Shenandoah Mansions
Named to lead Daughter, Phone Inn and Shenandoah Café

Organizations Involved

AH
Ash Hotels
Hotel developer and operator
Set to open Shenandoah Mansions on Dec. 31, 2026; reservations opened Nov. 5

New York-based hotelier developing Shenandoah Mansions in Richmond's Fan District.
Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority
Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority
State regulatory agency
Issued hotel-with-restaurant license

Virginia's state agency regulating alcohol sales and licenses.
BC
CK Bosworth Construction
General contractor
Lien action against the Shenandoah Mansions project still listed as active in court records in March 2026

Local general contractor that filed a mechanic's lien against the Shenandoah Mansions project.

Timeline

2021 November 2026

7 events Latest: 6 days ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Opening set for New Year's Eve

    Latest Development

    Ash Hotels said Shenandoah Mansions will open for stays Dec. 31, 2026. Reservations opened Nov. 5, with standard rates starting at $290.

  2. Brittanny Anderson named culinary partner

    Business

    The Richmond chef will oversee Daughter, Phone Inn and Shenandoah Café. The cafe is set to open with the hotel; Daughter and Phone Inn are planned for early 2027.

  3. Virginia ABC issues hotel-with-restaurant license

    Regulatory

    The Virginia ABC Authority issues a hotel-with-restaurant license to Shenandoah Mansions at 501 N. Allen Ave.

  4. Construction resumes under Chesapeake Construction Group

    Development

    City filings showed Chesapeake Construction Group, based in Orange, Virginia, took over the hotel build-out, Richmond BizSense reported on March 12, 2026. Lawsuits filed by subcontractors between March and September 2025 had each been settled or paid and dismissed.

  5. Judge rules mechanic's lien valid

    Legal

    A Richmond Circuit judge rules a mechanic's lien against the Shenandoah Mansions project is valid, clouding the hotel's future.

  6. Historic Richmond hosts renovation sneak peek

    Event

    Historic Richmond holds a tour of the in-progress renovation, with the hotel then expected to open in Fall 2024.

  7. Ash Hotels begins Shenandoah conversion

    Development

    New York-based Ash Hotels starts converting the former senior-living building at 501 N. Allen Ave. into a boutique hotel.

Scenarios

1

Shenandoah Mansions opens to guests

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Richmond BizSense, WTVR

The hotel is set to begin accepting guests Dec. 31, 2026, with reservations open. The ABC license clears a key regulatory hurdle.

2

Legal dispute continues to delay hotel

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: WTVR, Richmond Circuit Court records

The mechanic's lien dispute or other legal issues prevent the hotel from operating. The hotel remains unopened or faces further court proceedings, despite holding the ABC license.

3

ABC license revoked or suspended

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Virginia ABC licensee lookup

The ABC license is revoked or suspended due to violations or legal issues. This would appear in the ABC licensee lookup database as a status change.

4

Remaining CK Bosworth lien dispute is resolved

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Richmond BizSense, Richmond Circuit Court records

CK Bosworth Construction's lien action against Ash Hotels was still listed as active in court records in March 2026, and a judge had ordered one count to arbitration. A settlement, arbitration award or dismissal would end the last legal cloud over the property. Continuing litigation would keep the dispute open even as construction proceeds.

5

Daughter and Phone Inn open in early 2027

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Ash Hotels, Richmond Times-Dispatch

The two concepts are planned to follow the hotel opening. Daughter is hoped for February, with Phone Inn after that.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

May 2019

TWA Hotel at JFK (2019)

The 1962 TWA Flight Center, designed by Eero Saarinen, sat vacant for years before a multi-year renovation converted it into a 512-room hotel. The project faced multiple delays and financing challenges.

Then

The hotel opened in May 2019 to strong demand.

Now

It became a model for adaptive reuse of historic aviation buildings.

Why this matters now

Like Shenandoah Mansions, the TWA Hotel shows how converting a historic building into a hotel can take years and face significant hurdles.

November 2018

The Statler in Dallas (2018)

The 1956 Statler Hotel closed in 2001 and sat vacant for over a decade. A major renovation restored the building, which reopened in 2018 as a mixed-use hotel and residential complex.

Then

The hotel reopened in November 2018.

Now

It became a catalyst for downtown Dallas revitalization.

Why this matters now

The Statler's long vacancy and eventual restoration illustrate the challenges and potential of historic hotel conversions.

Sources

(11)
+5
Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority Ash Hotels WTVR CBS 6 Historic Richmond MapQuest Richmond BizSense VPM Richmond Times-Dispatch Hospitality Net Richmond Magazine Richmond Times-Dispatch