The Shops at The Bellevue

of premier office space. Located in the heart of the city’s Theater District, The Bellevue is lovingly known as The Grande Dame of Broad Street and appears on the U.S. List of Registered Historical Places. The building’s French Renaissance architecture and stately sophistication provides visitors with a one-of-a-kind experience reminiscent of the early twentieth century. The doors to the famed Bellevue-Stratford Hotel opened in 1904 at the corner of Broad and Walnut Streets. It was built by George C. Boldt, who also once served as manager of the prestigious Waldorf-Astoria, in New York City. Taking two years to complete, the Bellevue-Stratford was described at the time as the most luxurious hotel in the nation offering 1,090 guest rooms, the most magnificent ballroom in the United States and stunning lighting fixtures designed by Thomas Edison which still exists in the building today. For decades, the famed hotel served as a distinctive setting for prestige and high society with a long roster of notable guests including Jacob Astor, J.P. Morgan, William Jennings Bryan, Bob Hope, Jimmy Durante, John Wayne, Katherine Hepburn, and the Vanderbilt family. The hotel also played host to other countless socialites, luminaries and heads of state including every US President since Theodore Roosevelt. The Bellevue served as the venue for several of Americas premiere society galas, including The Academy Ball, The Charity Ball, and The Assemblies. Republican Convention (1936 and 1948) and The US Democratic Convention (1948) also were held at the hotel. After decades of playing a premier role in the country’s hospitality landscape, the property was put up for sale in 1976 and was eventually purchased in 1978 by Real Estate Developer Ronald Rubin, and his company, Richard R. Rubin & Co. Recognizing the importance of saving the historic landmark building from possible demolition, Ron Rubin restored the property as a catalyst to the revitalization of Broad Street, Philadelphia's premiere arts and cultural destination, now known as the "Avenue of the Arts." Today, The Bellevue still stands tall as The Grande Dame of Broad Street continuing to serve as the epicenter for Philadelphia’s prestigious social and business community.