Egyptian Motor Hotel's neon lights up Grand Avenue again. Get inside the renovated Phoenix gem

Michael Salerno, Arizona Republic
·6 min read

Plentiful palm trees line Grand Avenue in downtown Phoenix. One palm in particular stands out, with a cartoonish aesthetic, a trunk resembling a dotted line and fronds that rest against a vintage 1950s-era sign.

That colorful, blocky neon sign evokes nostalgia for a bygone era of tourism when roadside kitsch was king.

The Egyptian Motor Hotel reopened Jan. 27, reviving a former midcentury motel and reinventing it as a modern boutique property with nods to the past.

Operating under Best Western's BW Signature Collection, a brand promising "daring and surprising" destination hotels, the newly restored Egyptian aims to put Grand Avenue's arts district on the map — not only with its distinctive look and feel but also for its buzzworthy flagship restaurant, the modern Mexican eatery Chilte, and outdoor live entertainment venue.

"What we want the guests to experience is, when they enter the premises, they’ve made the right lodging choice," said Gene Kornota, the hotel's owner and executive.

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Egyptian Motor Hotel in Phoenix adapts the old to fit the new

The 48-room Egyptian Motor Hotel, which operated for decades as the Las Palmas Inn, stands out for being an older property with updated and converted features to fit today's market, which Kornota described as "adaptive reuse."

Kornota first learned of the Las Palmas Inn through the parents of his Chicago-based partners, who relocated to Phoenix from there.

He's had experience purchasing aging hotels and motels in Chicago and turning them into something new through his work as the principal of Rebel Hospitality, which develops and manages boutique hotels. Rebel Hospitality was involved with the restoration of the Egyptian.

The seating area of a guest room at the reimagined Egyptian Motor Hotel on Grand Avenue in Phoenix, which reopened in January 2023.
The seating area of a guest room at the reimagined Egyptian Motor Hotel on Grand Avenue in Phoenix, which reopened in January 2023.

Making the old feel new again at the Egyptian partly involved reconfiguring the triangular design of the parking lot to improve its efficiency and security while also allowing space for the Egyptian Live concert venue, Kornota said.

A walkway was converted to patios with soft drapery that separates the rooms and faces the venue, which "sort of creates a little cabana," he said.

There's also the hotel's theme, described by Kornota as "a mix of rock 'n' roll and retro." It's evident in the in-room Bluetooth speakers resembling Marshall amplifiers and novelty pillows patterned after VHS tapes. Artwork in one of the king rooms uses the names of The Doors' songs and album titles to form the face of its late lead singer, Jim Morrison.

Repurposing the motel makes it more practical and appealing to modern-day consumers, Kornota said. The Egyptian is targeted to 25- to 35-year-old travelers — or, as the hotel's website puts it, it aims to "inspire the creative types, the foodies, and the music lovers who like to connect and surround themselves in originality."

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Inside the Egyptian Motor Hotel's guest experience

Guests at the Egyptian will find rooms with a more modern flair than the retro sign would suggest. Rooms have either a king bed or bunk bed, a dinette table and Bluetooth speakers that resemble Marshall guitar amplifiers as well as smart TVs and free Wi-Fi.

Rooms have a patio view of the hotel's outdoor entertainment venue, Egyptian Live, which has 250 seats and will feature live music, DJs and comedy shows.

The spirited decor of a guest room at the newly updated Egyptian Motor Hotel on Grand Avenue in Phoenix. The hotel reopened in January 2023.
The spirited decor of a guest room at the newly updated Egyptian Motor Hotel on Grand Avenue in Phoenix. The hotel reopened in January 2023.

The Egyptian is dog friendly, and guests can bring up to two dogs for a $50 pet fee.

"We layer on the amenities one would expect in a finer property, and the experience you’d expect in a four-star hotel," Kornota said. "We could never be a four-star property as a motel, but it doesn’t mean we can’t deliver those same amenities. It’s not really about just a room, it’s about the total experience."

Chilte restaurant: Beloved pop-up makes permanent home on Grand Avenue

For Kornota, one of the key parts of that total experience is the hotel's flagship restaurant, Chilte — a permanent home for a former pop-up beloved for its modern Mexican cuisine.

Chilte, owned by chef and former NFL player Lawrence "L.T." Smith and his fiancée, Aseret Arroyo, began in 2020 as a food stand at metro Phoenix farmers markets. Now, it has a permanent home at the Egyptian.

Chilte's menu includes:

  • Barbacoa, lengua or jackfruit pibil tacos, $20 for three.

  • A rotating chef's sandwich for $23. The current offering is a local beef chorizo sandwich with green chiles, pineapple jam and Oaxacan cheese on a Noble Bread bun.

  • A flight of three different types of mole, served with a grilled lamb rack, for $37.

Chilte is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

What people are saying about the Egyptian Motor Hotel and Chilte

Buzz surrounding the restaurant generated strong interest in the motel's opening.

Local artist Vincent de Sarthe, who closely follows the Egyptian's Instagram account, was inspired to show his support for the motel as a big fan of Chilte.

He thinks the motel and restaurant will create more excitement around Grand Avenue and its art scene.

"I love the concept of a one-stop venue where I can have an amazing dinner, catch a performance and have somewhere to stay," de Sarthe said.

Chilte's evolution:A long-awaited Mexican restaurant is opening inside this iconic Phoenix hotel on Grand Avenue

Egyptian Live: A new Grand Avenue entertainment venue

The performances will take place at the motel's Egyptian Live, a 250-seat outdoor concert venue and cocktail bar. Egyptian Live was designed to be a focal point, with stage views from first-floor cabana areas and second-floor balconies, Kornota said.

During Super Bowl 2023 week, Egyptian Live hosted a drag performance called "Cirque DiSturbia," inspired by the music of halftime show headliner Rihanna, and a game-day watch party with Chilte serving burgers and fries from its food truck.

A bathroom in the updated Egyptian Motor Hotel in Phoenix. The renovated property on Grand Avenue reopened in January 2023.
A bathroom in the updated Egyptian Motor Hotel in Phoenix. The renovated property on Grand Avenue reopened in January 2023.

Upcoming events at Egyptian Live include a Goldwax Revival Party with soul and blues music on Sunday, Feb. 19; and drag cabaret with Pandora DeStrange on Sunday, Feb. 26. There will be karaoke at 8 p.m. Wednesdays.

With the Egyptian Motor Hotel's modern revamp and on-site dining and entertainment venues, Kornota thinks it can fill a niche in metro Phoenix for travelers seeking an experience different from a standard hotel.

"This is a great experience that’s right in downtown Phoenix," he said. "Your choices are a tall traditional hotel model, or you can dare to stay at the Egyptian."

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Reach the reporter at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salerno_phx.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Egyptian Motor Hotel in Phoenix revs back to life. Look inside