City of Bluefield approves zoning change for Hotel Thelma reopening

BLUEFIELD, W. Va. (WVVA) -Hotel Thelma is a historic part of Bluefield, West Virginia’s East End, hosting some famous guests like James Brown, Little Richard, and Tina Turner and serving as a stop on the “Green Book,” a roadmap for African Americans navigating the U.S. during the Jim Crowe Era.

Now Reverend James Mitchell Senior, the building’s owner, is planning to reopen the hotel with the features it once had, like rooms to rent, a shop, and a restaurant.

“Well, the end vision for it is to establish the fact that it’s an historic hotel...” says Rev. Mitchell Sr., “...and that it can also be an asset to the East End side of town and the community, it will accent the history of the people of color and the history of this city and be an asset to the city itself.”

However, before his vision could become a reality, it needed approval from the city. It got that approval when the City Board voted unanimously to approve the rezoning of where the building stands, which will allow for assisted living and mixed retail in the neighborhood.

Cecil Marson, Bluefield’s City Manager, says this is part of the City’s continued effort to preserve the history of the area while building its future.

“I think that’s what we’re trying to do as a collective community here is rebuild our city and also remember our history, so it’s vital; we either move forward or we don’t make it,” says Marson.

Reverend Mitchell says he’s excited by the news of the City’s approval and says it’s a way to put things back the way they were originally intended while meeting today’s standards. While work still needs to be done before the hotel can open its doors to guests, he says the result of that labor will be a benefit to their community and a boost in tourism to the city.

“...In today’s society, people want history...” explains Rev. Mitchell Sr. “...so hopefully it will be an influx which will help this side of town and will help the city because, once they see what’s going on here, they’re going to say, ‘I wonder what else this little town has to offer.’”

Marson says Hotel Thelma is part of the fiber of this city, adding he can think of no better project for the City to help bring to life.

Reverend Mitchell Senior says they’ve applied for grants to help fund the building’s restoration and are still waiting to hear back. However, he adds that you can help bring back this part of history by contributing funding, either through donations or buying Hotel Thelma t-shirts and bricks. You can find out more on the hotel’s Facebook page.