When Jefferson Brown completed building the brick Naples Hotel in 1895, it quickly became known as one of the finest hotels in Western New York. Backed by ten local Naples businessmen, who saw that the village needed a proper hotel, restaurant and saloon, no expense was spared at crafting this grand establishment. The new building offered 30 guest rooms and was proudly advertised as "lit by gas, heated by steam." Like most buildings of the era, it had no indoor plumbing and no electricity until the turn of the century.
In 1914, a horseback rider passing through stopped for the night and signed the hotel register: Ethel Roosevelt, daughter of former President Theodore Roosevelt.
The hotel's hardest years came in the decades that followed. By 1919, a change in ownership and the loss of a liquor license had left the building closed and its future in doubt — rumors swirled that the owner was negotiating with a wrecking company to tear it down for salvage. The community pushed back, unwilling to lose what the local paper called "an ornament to our street and village," and the hotel survived. In 1924, disaster struck again: a fire broke out in the roof before dawn on July 30th, destroying the entire roof structure and damaging the interior with smoke and water. The Naples Fire Department's new chemical apparatus kept the blaze from spreading to neighboring buildings, and the hotel was rebuilt. During Prohibition, the hotel had a more complicated relationship with the law — federal agents raided the building in August of 1928 and confiscated alleged, illegal liquor, a chapter of its past that lives on today in the speakeasy still tucked in the lower level. Decades later, in 1964, Bobby Kennedy stood on the front porch and addressed a crowd gathered on Main Street during an early Grape Festival — over 40,000 people descended on Naples for the two-day event.
Through near-demolition, fire, Prohibition, and generations of owners, the Naples Hotel endured — a steadfast part of this town for over 130 years.
In 2020, Tom and Destiny Salviski became the newest stewards of this landmark. Between 2020 and 2023, we undertook a comprehensive, deeply personal restoration — no expense spared, every decision made with care and respect for the building's heritage.
Behind the walls, we modernized the electrical and plumbing systems throughout the entire property and replaced suite windows, including every side and rear window of the upper floors. Throughout the building, we installed new interior corridor doors, new flooring, and updated lighting; painted every square inch; replaced every carpet; restored the hallways to their original splendor; and replaced all 17 toilets. In every guest room, new beds, frames, furniture, and artwork were chosen to feel period-appropriate while offering modern comfort.
Today, the Naples Hotel features 10 beautifully appointed private guest suites, including two long-term stay apartments, with the convenience of keyless entry throughout.
We're deeply grateful to every owner and steward who cared for this building before us — through fire, hard times, and a moment when it nearly didn't survive at all. Their dedication preserved its character so we could carry it forward. Jefferson Brown built this hotel to be a symbol of progress in 1895. We hope every guest who walks through its doors today feels that same spirit, carried into its next chapter.
