Read all about it: Old Portland, Maine, newspaper office becomes hotel

Here’s some front-page news: The historic old newspaper building in Portland, Maine, will become the city’s first “lifestyle boutique” hotel.

The Press Hotel, slated to open May 6, aims to tell a story that’s all about location, location, location. Actually, make that two stories: one is about the newspaper heritage of the building and the other is about the flourishing cultural goings-on of Maine’s largest city.

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FOR THE RECORD

March 25, 10:43 a.m.: An earlier version of this story said the hotel would open April 20. It will now open May 6.

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The new inn, housed in the former landmark structure of the Portland Press Herald, is the brainchild of local developer Jim Brady.

Newspaper themes run throughout the property. The 110 guest rooms, for example, take inspiration from 1920s-era writers’ offices.

A leather desk chair in one of the guest rooms is emblazoned with the phrase, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog,” the fabled typing sentence that includes every letter of the alphabet.

“From what I’ve seen on the tour I took, [The Press Hotel is] doing a good job of keeping a large part of [the] character” of the old newspaper building,” copy desk editor Ken Jones, whose experience with the Portland Press Herald, dates to 1974, told me.

A guest room is now “right where I sat for about 20 years,” Jones said.

In the lobby bar, named the Inkwell, drinks rest on coasters with a typewriter-key motif. “Hot off the Press” French-pressed coffee is also available.

The hotel also pledges to give the scoop on the city’s hip arts scene. Only the works of local artists will grace the building. Partnerships with area cultural institutions will offer guests insider access and lectures.

It’s a clever idea to convert a historic newspaper building into a hotel that champions the past, present and future of its city. Similar concepts have been used in other cities such as The Scotsman hotel in Edinburgh.

Perhaps it can be done in Los Angeles at the old Herald Examiner building?

Doubles from $299 a night.

Info: The Press Hotel

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