Our Lens

The Hampshire Companies, Pinnacle Companies, and Circle Squared Alternative Investments Celebrate Opening of The MC Hotel in Montclair

The MC Hotel makes its mark as the first new full-service hotel in Montclair in 80 years
Montclair, N.J.

The MC Hotel opened on Thursday bringing the first full-service hotel to Montclair in 80 years. Developed by a joint venture between The Hampshire Companies, and The Pinnacle Companies, along with investment partner Circle Squared Alternative Investments, the 159-room, 120,000 square-foot MC Hotel is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection portfolio.  Located at the corner of Bloomfield Avenue and Orange Road, the Hotel stands as a focal point at the gateway of Montclair’s booming downtown and is managed by Aparium Hotel Group, marking the group’s entrance into the East Coast market.

To celebrate the milestone executives from The Hampshire Companies, Pinnacle Companies, and Circle Squared Alternative Investments were joined by Montclair Mayor Robert Jackson, members of the Montclair Town Council, representatives from Aparium Hotel Group, and the local community for a ribbon cutting event mark the official opening of the hotel.

The MC Hotel stands one block away from the Montclair Art Museum which opened in 1914, and a short walk to Montclair’s vibrant dining, shopping and entertainment scene, including the historic Wellmont Theater, a 2,700-person venue opened in 1922. The ninth-floor rooftop features sweeping views of New Jersey’s foliage to the west and an uninterrupted view of the Manhattan skyline to the east. Just a five-minute drive from the Walnut and Bay Street New Jersey Transit stations, the hotel offers easy access to New York City via the Montclair-Boonton Line to Penn Station in just over 30 minutes.

“When we embarked on this project, we sought to not just build another hotel, but to redefine the hospitality experience, creating a space authentic to Montclair’s dynamic and vibrant downtown.  in New Jersey,” said James E. Hanson II, President and CEO of The Hampshire Companies. “The successful execution of that vision is evident as we celebrate the opening of The MC Hotel. From unique culinary experiences, art and music infused experiences, and breathtaking views, we’ve created a one-of-a-kind experience for guests and visitors as well as the local community.”

On-site hospitality assets in the hotel feature a full conference and social event space on the entire second floor; and Allegory, a full-service lobby restaurant, and Alto, a ninth floor indoor/outdoor rooftop bar and lounge.

“Along with our partners, our dream was to bring forth the most luxurious boutique hotel the state of New Jersey has ever seen,” said Jeff Sica, Chief Executive Officer of Circle Squared Alternative Investments. “This morning, we officially made that dream a reality and could not have been prouder to share in the excitement alongside our investors and the great city of Montclair. This was a project that took incredible effort and the contributions of everyone involved has truly raised the bar for what’s possible in the world of commercial real estate and private investing.”

Concepted by internationally acclaimed Dash Design’s David Ashen, The MC Hotel’s public spaces are designed to emulate a gallery space, showcasing the hotel’s local and nationally curated art collection. Aparium’s signature “translocal” approach led the team to tap into the local creative community of Montclair, helping to bring the town’s spirit into the heart of The MC Hotel. A rotating calendar of wellness, music, art, food and beverage pop-ups features wine tastings, chocolatier experiences, Wednesday evening art tours throughout the hotel and more.

Allegory, the full-service dining concept at The MC Hotel, is a 95-seat restaurant under the helm of Executive Chef Daniel Kill. In addition to the restaurant, the hotel features a 40-seat Lobby Bar on the first-floor offering hotel guests and locals an all-day space to lounge and linger while enjoying drinks, coffee, fresh juices and bites from The Marketplace – a convenient and casual venue to enjoy homemade wraps, salads, sandwiches and granola as well as baked goods.

Alto, opening in September 2019, is a 106-seat, 3,600-square-foot rooftop bar and lounge featuring lighter fare with a hand-crafted cocktail program to complement. The space is complemented with outdoor space and seating, allowing for all-weather access, while the outdoor rotunda features a cozy fire pit surrounded by lounge seating overlooking the Watchung mountains—and in the distance, the Manhattan skyline

The hotel includes over 8,000 square feet of dedicated conference, meeting and event space, with the second floor dedicated to meeting rooms, a dramatic ballroom and an executive boardroom. The ninth floor has a lounge-style private event space, as well as The Hampshire Suite, an 800 square-foot event space with commanding views of the entire Manhattan skyline. The second floor offers several sizes of meeting spaces, all bathed in natural light and warm tones offering a neutral backdrop for any event. The 1,300 square-foot Gallery I room offers a private patio with over 1,000 square feet of outdoor space with views of Bloomfield Avenue, while the Exhibition Ballroom offers over 3,000 square feet of space with 12-foot ceilings. The CSQ Gallery and Pinnacle Boardroom offer a more intimate, private setting for business or social groups.


About The Hampshire Companies
The Hampshire Companies is a full-service, private real estate firm based in Morristown, New Jersey.  The Hampshire Companies is a vibrant, dynamic organization that combines creative vision and superior execution, thereby enabling it to create and enhance value in real estate investments.  Additional information on The Hampshire Companies is available online at www.HampshireRE.com. To stay connected with The Hampshire Companies and for updates on the latest transactions and news follow the company on Facebook, Twitter @hampshireco, and LinkedIn.

About The Pinnacle Companies
The Pinnacle Companies is a privately-held, regional real estate development firm that focuses its core competencies on transformational residential, commercial and retail properties with a concentration on redevelopment, mixed-use and Transit-Oriented Projects. Pinnacle was founded in 1984 by Brian M. Stolar. The company has delivered approximately 8,000 single-family homes, condominiums and apartment units to date as well as retail, office and hotels. . Pinnacle is a recognized leader in urban development and the company’s successful brand reputation for innovation and quality is founded on its unique ability to identify and capitalize on diverse market opportunities. www.pinnaclecompanies.net

About Circle Squared Alternative Investments
Circle Squared is a registered investment adviser with the SEC and was founded in 2014 by Jeffrey Sica to work with a finite group of high net worth individuals and family office investors to help them find alternative market investments, primarily in private equity real estate deals.  Led by a team with decades of experience, Circle Squared or its affiliates have been a joint venture member, consultant or otherwise involved with over $800,000,000 in real estate developments and transactions since its founding.  The leadership of Circle Squared has been a part of the acquisition, or development of over 5,000 residential units throughout their careers.  For more information, go to www.circlesquaredalts.com.

The past performances of Circle Squared and its affiliates are not indicative of the future results of the Company, the Joint Venture or the Project. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. 

About Aparium Hotel Group
Founded in 2011, Aparium Hotel Group is a Chicago-based, leading lifestyle hotel company owned and operated by industry veterans accomplished in hotel development, management and marketing. Aparium Hotel Group’s growth is guided by its “Translocal Hospitality” philosophy, which is the belief that great hotels are a destination sought out by travelers and a place that thrives as a gathering hub for locals. Adept in both adaptive reuse projects and ground-up developments, each of Aparium Hotel Group’s properties are independent brands and celebrate the specific neighborhoods and unique history of the distinct cities in which they reside. Aparium Hotel Group currently operates ten hotel properties across the United States including the Detroit Foundation Hotel (Detroit, MI), Crossroads Hotel (Kansas City, MO), Hewing Hotel (Minneapolis, MN) and the Hu. Hotel (Memphis, TN), among others. Aparium Hotel Group has six new projects set to open in 2020 and others in various stages of development. For more information about Aparium Hotel Group, please visit www.aparium.com.

About Autograph Collection Hotels
Autograph Collection Hotels advocates for the original, championing the individuality of each of its over 170 independent hotels located in the most desirable destinations across more than 30 countries and territories. Each is a product of passion and a personal realization of its individual founder’s vision, making each hotel singular and special: Exactly Like Nothing Else. Hand-selected for their inherent craft and distinct perspectives on design and hospitality, Autograph Collection hotels offer rich immersive moments that leave a lasting imprint. For more information, please visit http://www.autographhotels.com/, and explore our social media channels on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook or follow along to be inspired by immersive moments that are #ExactlyLikeNothingElse.  Autograph Collection Hotels is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the new name of Marriott’s travel program replacing Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz- Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG). The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including earning points toward free hotel stays and nights toward Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.

About Dash Design
Since its founding in 2002, dash design is industry-recognized for its ability to tailor each project to address its clients’ specific business needs, whether creating or revitalizing spaces or brands. The firm’s experience reflects partnering with both Fortune 500 clients and industry disruptors across retail, restaurants, hospitality, senior living and healthcare on projects throughout the US, Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Asia. dash design brings a brand-centered, multi-sensory dimension to its work in interiors, empathically attuned to the needs of those who engage with these environments, and consistent with its belief that Great Brands Are Built From the Inside Out.


Media Contact:                                                                        
Dan Johnson
R&J Strategic Communications 
908-895-0785
djohnson@randjsc.com