The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-01
ST. NICHOLAS AN
 ELEGANT HOSTELRY
Costly and Artistic Fixtures andt
 Decorations
THE CAFE AND BUFFET
Splendid Mirror and Other Features of the Bar Attract Attention-Cafe
 Doing Large Business. ss
 Open Till a. m. ?

Today is the time set for the formal opening of the St. Nicholas hotel On Nine teenth street. and 1t Is expected that dur ing the day hundreds of visitors will in- spect the new hostelry.
 The St., Nicholas was formerly the Ar ington. but it has been so thoroughly re- modelled that 1t is not recognizable as the. same place. More than $5000O has been spent on the hotel in it's various depart ments, including the buffet, the cafe, the office and guest chambers, and the re- suit Is one of the most elegant places of the kind in the south.
 The office has been finished in quarter changed from the corner to the front of, the building.
 Like an Art Picture.
 The cafe has the appearance of an art picture It is finished in mahogany and Flemish oak, and everything used in the furnishing is as rich and artistic as could be procured. Small electric eandalebra of silver adorn each table and the lights of the room are of a soft and mellow na- ture, which, as someone expressed it last night. make the lad4s look more beau tiful and the gentlemen more handsome" The electric fixtures are all of colonial design, and were supplied by Sutherland of Cincinnati. who is renowned for unique designs.
 The china is of the finest, Is designed especially for this cafe and each piece has dainty lettering with the words "St. Nicholas" on it. It was furnished by Koch & Brunstein of Cincinnati All the silver Is in beautiful design, and is from the factory of Reed X Barton.
 Although scarcely ready for service, the cafe has been crowded every day for the last four days, and on Saturday at the noon hour twenty people were waiting in the office for those at the tables to finish so they could could get seats.
 The Buffet.
 But the buffet is the crowning feature of the whole establishment. The fixtures alone in this department cost s12,- GOO. They are not only equal to anything of the kind in the south, but are as ele- gant as could be procured in the United States. They were supplied by Kloak Bros. & Co. of Cincinnati. The lighting effects are the same in the buffet as in the cafe, all the electric fixtures being of colonial design.
 The bar fixtures are of mahogany crowned with an immense semi ovate 1 French plate mirror thirty feet long | Nothing equal to these fixtures, it is said, l can be found in the south The walls are wainscotted with white Italian marble and the floors are of Moorsh mosaic. and the entrance to the grill room in the rear
 Cut glass bottles, glasses and bowls are lavishly used in the equipment of both the buffet and the cafe. It was furnished by F. A. Sehwill & Son of Cincinnati.
 The bar tenders are all from the north and are warranted to please. In short, the St Nicholas is as complete in every respect as it can possibly be made and Is an exceptionally inviting resort.
 Ladies Invited. Ladies especially are urged to visit the hotel. They will be at liberty to inspect every part of the house and will receive the most courteous attention. Arthur Wall, the manager, will exert every ef- fort to have his establishment favorite among those who delight in the service given by a first-class hotel.
 The cafe will remain open daily until 1 a. m.