Grand Hotel Central is one of the two buildings on the Kruiskade that survived the bombing of Rotterdam in 1940, together with the Oude Luxor Theater.
Grand Hotel Central was built in 1917 by order of Mr. Allard. Mr. Allard was the first owner of the hotel. From the beginning, the hotel had 64 rooms, a large kitchen with a large restaurant. The hotel was known to the public as the best fire-proofed hotel in Rotterdam. In 1922, the hotel was taken over by the municipal mortgage bank. After it had not been used as a hotel for 10 years, Mr. Phillipsen, great-great-grandfather of the sons of the previous owner Mrs. Phillipsen, bought it for fl. 350,000.
Under the management of Mr. A. Phillipsen, the company improved. In 1935, 45 rooms were added. These rooms were located at the rear of the existing building. However, this extension did not last long, because it was bombed to pieces during the Second World War. This extension was not rebuilt, because the Germans did not allow it. In the 1950s, all rooms were completely modernized and equipped with a telephone, bath or shower. This modernization was necessary to continue to meet the wishes of the guests and to remain competitive.
The lobby of Grand Hotel Central was managed by the father-in-law of the later owner, Mrs. Phillipsen, during the Second World War. Mrs. Phillipsen's husband then took over the hotel. He died in 1997 and the widow Phillipsen continued the family business together with her two sons and Mr. Valster, a friend of the family. From August 1999, the hotel was owned by Mr. Valster. He closed the kitchen and therefore also the restaurant, because they were not profitable enough. Thanks to these and a few other adjustments, the hotel flourished again.
At the beginning of the new century, the current operator took over the hotel. The front of the hotel is monumental.
