PHILADELPHIA – April 25, 2018 – Modus Hotels and Parkway Corporation broke ground yesterday on Pod Philly, Philadelphia’s first micro-hotel, together with Philadelphia Commerce Director, Harold Epps. Modus Hotels, a developer, owner and operator of a diverse collection of lifestyle hotels in Washington DC, Baltimore, Chicago and Philadelphia, has partnered with Parkway Corporation, a Philadelphia-based family-owned and operated parking, real estate development, and airport services company, to develop the hotel. Parkway has acquired, developed and managed commercial parking facilities across the US and Canada since 1930.
Parkway and Modus are creating a unique moment in Philadelphia’s Center City with the development of the 252-room Pod Philly, a 100,000 square foot, 11-story micro-hotel affiliated with Pod Hotels. Pod Hotels operates four hotels in New York City with 1,400 rooms and is a pioneer of micro-hotels in New York City. In 2017, Modus developed and now owns and operates Pod DC, a 245-room hotel, in the trendy Chinatown/Penn Quarter neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Located at 31 South 19th Street at the intersection of 19th and Ludlow Street, Pod Philly will offer guests quick and easy access to public transportation and access to Center City’s most exciting entertainment, shops, and restaurants – all within two blocks of Rittenhouse Square and the new Comcast Tower of Innovation and Technology. Pod Phillywill feature well-appointed guest rooms and vibrant communal spaces where travelers are encouraged to socialize and connect.
With bold and stylish design elements crafted by the New York design firm Stonehill Taylor, the property will offer 252 smartly designed space-efficient queen and bunk bed rooms averaging 170 square feet, complemented by sleek tiled bathrooms with barn doors, rain showerheads, and eco-friendly bath products. Room features will also include built-in storage and high-tech amenities that allow guests to stream their own media, all designed to maximize space while providing travelers everything they need to stay plugged in and engaged.
Similar to Pod’s New York properties, the communal space and food and beverage venues at Pod Philly will be designed to attract visitors and local Philadelphians alike. Operated by Greg Root and Nick Kennedy of Defined Hospitality, the experience will include a first-floor restaurant and a coffee bar, serving as a pick-me-up for guests in the lobby’s communal work space. Pod Philly’s rooftop avails a greenhouse-styled bar with panoramic city views and a fully retractable glass roof open during good weather for patrons to converge and mingle over cocktails and light bites.
“Pod Philly will be a trendsetter in Center City – a combination of value, community and sheer fun.” – Conrad Cafritz, Chairman of Modus Hotels.
