Anderson, Margaret J. The Beverly Hills Hotel opened in May 1912, before the city ever existed. Margaret J. Anderson, a rich widow, and her son, Stanley S. Anderson, who had previously managed the Hollywood Hotel, were the initial owners. They hired architect John C. Austin to design the hotel, which he did in the Spanish Colonial style. Beverly Hills was an early suburb of Los Angeles, founded by oilman E. L. Bevans. He sold lots for $10 each (about $150 in today's money). The town was incorporated in 1913. The hotel was so popular that it quickly ran out of rooms, so Mr. Anderson added more buildings: a garage, apartment houses, a dance hall, and a movie theater. He also changed the name from the Hollywood to the Beverly Hills Hotel. In 1919, Mr. Anderson died at the age of 44. His son took over the business and renamed it the Beverly Hills Hotel &; Bungalow Company. In 1929, they sold the hotel for $275,000 to investors from Chicago who wanted to use the money to build a new home on Miami Beach. The hotel went through several changes of ownership after that, but it always focused on providing a luxurious experience for its guests.