The Downtowner Motor Inn

Description

Color photographic postcard of The Downtowner Motor Inn [159 Calhoun Street] and Royal Garden Restaurant. Features the north facade of the building, with signage at the right.

Captioned on back: "Calhoun Street near King. Located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina . . . the quaint 'City by the Sea,' renowned for its gardens and Civil War fame. Beautifully decorated restaurant and lounge."

Background (from Old Codgers Charleston Address Book): This six-story 100-foot building was built in 1963, one of the first new constructions in quite a while to fill a growing need for more visitor accommodations on the peninsula. As more inns and small hotels began to open below Calhoun Street, the Downtowner lost favor. Badly in need of dormitory space, the College of Charleston later acquired it and anchored their expansion along Calhoun Street from this point.