The Avalon building in downtown Rochester, Minnesota has a rich history of bringing people of all cultures together. Built in 1919 as the Northwestern Hotel, it operated as a hotel and restaurant for Jewish travelers and patients. Later, it was purchased and renamed the Avalon Hotel –­ a hotel that welcomed all non-caucasian visitors. The Avalon Building has a rich history we look forward to sharing with you.

Verne and Mary Manning purchased the hotel after staying in Rochester while doctoring at the Mayo Clinic. Because of it’s reputation as the only hotel in Rochester to accept Black people, it was added to Victor Green’s travel guide publication “The Negro Travelers’ Green Book”- A guide displaying services and businesses to black travelers. The Avalon Hotel accommodated quite a few Black celebrity travelers.

The Avalon Hotel earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

In 1987, the hotel became home to Hamilton Music – With studios and a store for musical instruments. In 2008, the building changed ownership again, and became Avalon Music, to reflect the history. Since then, the building has housed offices, apartments and a bistro.

December 2023… Christine Stahl and Natalie Victoria purchased the Avalon building – with hopes of bringing a unique, historic venue – a vibrant space, blending the urban, glam character with the architectural history represented in that era.