Arcade Hotel
Known Name(s)
Arcade Hotel
Address
1001 Main St. Bridgeport, CT
Establishment Type(s)
Hotel
Physical Status
Extant
Detailed History
The Arcade Hotel was one of the oldest operating hotels in Bridgeport and a key feature of the city's central business district. It included a shopping arcade, which was added to the original Greek Revival structure in 1886.
Throughout the Civil Rights movement, pressure from protestors and activists led to the gradual desegregation of hotels and other accommodations across Connecticut. In 1953, the General Assembly expanded the Public Accommodations Act to prevent discrimination in establishments such as hotels and restaurants. While the legislation did not fully eliminate segregation in the state, the effects of the Civil Rights movement were reflected in the increased number of Connecticut hotels being listed in The Green Book during the 1960s.
The Arcade Hotel was one of many establishments that decided to desegregate due to this momentum; it was listed in The Green Book's 1963-64 and 1966-67 editions. However, by the 1970s, the Arcade was severely impacted by a downturn in downtown retail, and the hotel closed. In 2012, the building was converted to apartments.
Listed individually and in the Downtown Bridgeport South National Register Historic District
