Albany Hotel - Oakland

The Albany Hotel opened in December 1889. After several years of with multiple changes in managers, lessees, and owners, it closed as a hotel in 1906. It then became known as the Albany Block, which was demolished in 1922.

On December 20, 1889, the proprietor of the hotel, Mrs. Jennie B. Lakhune threw a ball to celebrate the grand opening of the hotel. ¹ But the celebratory mood didn't last long, and by April of 1890, she had filed for insolvency. ² The hotel changed managers, and the building changed owners.

For a few years it was owned by Henry D. Bacon, who also owned the Bacon Block. ³ In 1895, it was purchased by William J. Dingee from the Bacon Land and Loan Company for $125,000 cash. ⁴ There was a dispute that went on for several years, filed by Bacon's widow.

A fire in 1899 gave the occupants a scare, but was found quickly and the fire department summoned before it did too much damage. At that time, the post office was the main ground floor tenant. ⁵ The post office renewed their lease in 1901 for 5 years, but moved out to the newly constructed downtown post office in 1903.

In 1906, because of the influx of businesses following the 1906 earthquake, the Albany Hotel closed as a hotel. ⁶ In 1907, Borax Smith had offices there; a fire threatened a valuable collection of art he had there. Fortunately the fire was extinguished before it did too much damage. ⁷

The building was demolished in 1922, ⁸ and the site became the location of the Roos Brothers Building.