Twenty-five years prior, Frank Cretella, co-founder of Landmark Hospitality, was involved in reviving The Stone Pony, a nightclub in Asbury Park that was seminal to the careers of Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi.

While engaging in the revival of the once-closed music venue, Cretella became captivated by the neighboring decrepit hotel, The Albion.

“I took the sign from the building the evening before its demolition – I was that enamored with it,” Cretella chuckled. “I made a promise to myself that one day I would reopen a venue and name it The Albion.”

In August, Landmark Hospitality, a company known for repurposing historic buildings, achieved just that.

The newly opened Albion, located in the old Grand Summit Hotel at 570 Springfield Ave. in Summit, now features a complimentary coworking space, a venue for weddings, a whiskey lounge, and an Italian eatery.

By the upcoming summer, the Albion plans to unveil 100 updated guest rooms and suites, a wellness spa, an additional event space inspired by a private residence, a rooftop dining area and bar, a listening space with a temporary sushi restaurant, and recording suites.

The emphasis on music was a deliberate choice for Cretella, who holds a deep affection for music alongside his passions for history, design, and development. For Cretella, this also harmonized with the name “The Albion,” which is the traditional name for Great Britain.

“I am a fan of rock ‘n roll and particularly British rock. The idea behind The Albion was to celebrate art and music,” he mentioned. “This concept resonates with me. It’s my tribute to music.”

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Live music is performed in the Italian restaurant Felina four nights a week, and the rooftop restaurant and bar will have a jazz and blues focus. Live music is also performed in the whiskey lounge, which has a piano.

Felina serves “Jersey Italian” cuisine, said Cretella. “It’s what people want and what they crave. It’s been such a huge success in Ridgewood,” he said of the restaurant, which has another location in the Bergen County town.

The 160-seat eatery has a 60-foot open kitchen as well as a fireplace surrounded by terrazzo and mosaic marble detailing. It also has a 45-seat bar wrapped around a wine room with five signature Negronis on tap. On the menu are dishes like white clam pizza, homemade mozzarella, eggplant Parmigiana, lasagna, chicken Scarpariello, and lobster fra diavolo.

Guest rooms at the refurbished property will be enhanced with bespoke ceilings and wall designs, each featuring a wet bar. Room rates are set to start at $300 per night, with suites going for $1,000.

Each of the guest rooms will boast unique design elements, such as exposed brick walls, textured and colorful walls, and shower skylights, providing a stark contrast to their previous iterations in the Grand Summit Hotel. As part of the transformation, the total number of rooms has been reduced by a third, allowing for more spacious accommodations.

The revamped rooms will complement the venue at The Albion, which can accommodate up to 200 guests and is adorned with original stained-glass windows, a grand two-story fireplace, and custom brass chandeliers with crystals recycled from the hotel’s former ballroom. This marks a significant enhancement from the Grand Summit Hotel, which ceased to host weddings in 2020.

Looking ahead to next summer, The Albion is set to introduce an additional venue, Blackburn House. This 9,000-square-foot venue, designed in a midcentury modern mansion style, will feature a music room, a library, and soaring 30-foot vaulted ceilings. Blackburn House, drawing its name from the original designation of the Grand Summit Hotel, is part of a broader plan that involves converting 43 rooms in the attached Annex.

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But, according to Cretella, The Albion isn’t all about out-of-towners.

“It’s meant to be a place where locals engage with the tourists,” he said. “It’s a community hotel. There are more activities for the general community than anyone else. We want the vibe to be Summit and we embrace the other restaurants and businesses in town.”

The cornerstone of that is The Albion’s 3,000-square-foot free coworking space called The Living Room, which also has a free coffee bar.

Summit’s Albion will be the forerunner of Landmark Hospitality’s future hotels with the same name. One is in the works in Jersey City, and another could open in Asbury Park as part of a new entertainment complex. The hotels will join Landmark Hospitality’s 18 boutique hotels, event venues and restaurants, some that were refurbished from former historic properties.

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The Grand Summit Hotel was built in 1868 as a modest guest house called the Blackburn Hotel. But with its Victorian architecture and proximity to the Summit train station, it grew into a destination for travelers looking for an escape from New York City. In 1929, it expanded and was renamed as the Grand Summit Hotel.

“The Grand Summit Hotel has undergone several name changes throughout its history, each reflecting a different chapter in its story,” said Cretella. “While the name holds a special place in the hearts of many locals, Landmark saw an opportunity to introduce the brand to a new era by reimagining it as The Albion Summit. This isn’t just about a name change; it’s about revitalizing the spirit of the space.”

Go: 570 Springfield Ave., Summit; thealbionhotels.com, 908-273-3000.

Contact: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com

Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, although she’s a lifetime Jersey girl who considers herself an expert in everything from the Jersey Shore to the Garden State’s buzzing downtowns. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: The Grand Summit Hotel is now The Albion. Here’s what’s inside