Last Updated on May 8, 2024 by Marybeth
The days of Mom or Pop sitting behind a motel desk waiting to hand over a plastic key fob for your room are becoming a thing of the past. No longer will you need to ding that little bell on the counter because maybe Mom is in the back shifting sheets from the washer to the dryer. Here is your modern day alternative: The Local – St. Augustine.
Motel revivalism is happening all over the country, and here in Florida we are seeing – and lauding! – the repurposing of old buildings rather than giving up and tearing them down. Aiming to capture the spirit of nostalgia while offering light, modern, fresh spaces with contemporary amenities, The Local – St. Augustine is replacing that front desk with a digital key collected via an app which also provides a platform for guest services. You arrive at your room, unlock your door with your phone, and begin that unwinding process way sooner than in bygone days. Break out the celebratory Yay we’re here! beverage of your choice.
The Local – St. Augustine is a custom-refreshed midcentury property located in the best of locations for you to explore downtown St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, and so many other nearby events, activities, and restaurants within walking/biking distance: think the St. Augustine Amphitheater, the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. Pizza, tacos, juice bars, and full service southern fare in a former gas station are close by, to give you a short list.
The “after” shots of this simply but tastefully designed transformation are so beautiful we may not even think about the (backbreaking, tear-inducing, holy you-know-what) moments that go into bringing new life to an old property. I was able to chat with Leila Bedoian, co-owner with her husband, Adam, about some of the behind-the-scenes that happened while creating The Local – St. Augustine. We love the pretty – but bring on the real!
Your reimagined hotel is warm and graceful, with an injection of fun in the colors and vibe, making it seem like the process must have been seamless. Was it?
The whole process was quite intense! It took us 8 months to get the clear to close on the property. We kept having to extend our deadlines because we were getting an SBA loan. Not many wanted to take a chance on a hotel (and a motel at that!) during a pandemic. However, we had our vision and enough hotel background that we ended up persevering and making it happen.
The locals must have been abuzz watching the amazing transformation happening. Once it was finished, did you find you had to almost immediately set out a NO VACANCY sign?
Once we finally got the remodel finished and up and running we didn’t have a single reservation for two weeks! It was a real OH LORD WHAT DID WE DO moment. But we kept moving forward with marketing, and getting our digital footprint out there, and the bookings finally started coming in!
You both grew up in the hospitality industry working with large corporate chains, and are avid travelers yourselves. Did your background influence how you made your design decisions? Did you do a lot of the renovation work yourselves?
I knew enough about design to know I should hire a company to assist us. There was a lot of back and forth because I knew I wanted it to have a retro but very minimalistic design, that felt very clean. I didn’t want too much clutter. That’s where our hospitality background came in. We know what makes for a good experience.
Adam and I are actually still working our regular jobs and were doing so during the reno process, so we did have a maintenance crew to do repairs and cosmetic upgrades.
You’ve certainly taken an older property from kitsch to hip (leaving just the right amount of kitsch in place, in our opinion!) With your digital contactless check-in and other amenities, The Local – St. Augustine looks complete! Do you have plans for any tweaks in the future?
We are still working on our hospitality suite which will serve coffee and have tables and a sitting area, with music. A garden lounge area is coming soon as well. We also hired a company to create a mural that will be a nod to the 50s building. It’s such a cool structure and I want to honor it as much as possible. Stay tuned!
The Local – St. Augustine offers multiple room choices: Single Full, Double Full, Double Queen, and Single King. Every room includes a microwave, mini-fridge, high speed Wi-Fi, hair dryer and safes. There is a swimming pool with a private, tucked-away feeling. And the hotel is dog-friendly!
During your stay you can rent bicycles on-site through Drifters Beach and Bike Rentals. The Local – St. Augustine has partnered with Anastasia Fitness to bring you complimentary gym access which includes cardio and weight rooms, group classes, yoga rooms, steam rooms, lap pool, basketball courts, and more!
Having lived in the area for almost 10 years (and they were married here!) Leila and Adam have a wealth of insider info on places to visit – restaurants, breweries, juice bars, brunch spots, food trucks, etc. and can answer any question you may have. Visit them on Instagram for posts about places to explore. The couple is not on site 24/7 but are super responsive through the Virdee app, and any issues you may have can be addressed immediately. You’ll receive a daily room-freshening by their housekeeper, which will be so welcome after a day of touristing!
Some of the recommended spots for food & drink to check out while staying at The Local – St. Augustine:
Odd Birds Cocktail Lounge & Kitchen
You will be welcomed like a local at The Local – St. Augustine! Come check it out – and check in!
Feature photo at the beginning of our post is by photographer Justin Snavely.
The Local – St. Augustine is located in the Davis Shores community of St. Augustine, which is at the tip of the peninsula close to Salt Run and the Mantazas River, just a little over a half mile to The Bridge of Lions which connects you to downtown St. Augustine.
