Moxy Phoenix Downtown

Moxy Phoenix Downtown opened December 21, 2023, inside the Luhrs Building, a nearly century-old office tower at the corner of Central Avenue and Jefferson Street. Developers PEG Companies and A.G. Hill Partners converted the historic structure into a 164-room hotel occupying floors two through nine, marking Marriott's lifestyle brand debut in downtown Phoenix through adaptive reuse rather than new construction.

The place

The hotel sits at 116 South Central Avenue, on the corner of Central and Jefferson, directly across from the CityScape retail and entertainment complex and one block from Footprint Center. Chase Field is a short walk away, and the Jefferson Street stop on the Valley Metro light rail sits at the door, connecting guests to Phoenix Art Museum, the Roosevelt Row arts district and Sky Harbor without a car. The address places the hotel inside downtown Phoenix's sports-and-convention core, a few blocks of arenas, government buildings and mid-rise offices that empties out at night on non-event days but fills fast around Suns, Diamondbacks or convention crowds.

The concept

The Luhrs Building dates to 1924 and previously held county attorney offices and a street-level bar; PEG Companies and Dallas-based A.G. Hill Partners bought the 11-story concrete structure in late 2019, inside a Qualified Opportunity Zone, and spent roughly four years converting it while keeping the exterior facade intact and a law office on one of the upper floors. FFKR Architects, led by principal Jake Bodell, handled the building conversion with contractor Okland Construction, running new guestroom plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems through a shell built for offices, not hotel rooms. Interior designer Chris Shook of Flick Mars kept the original staircases, octagonal columns, mail chute and double-height lobby, then layered in Moxy's house style: a bar-based check-in instead of a front desk, and a two-wall Phoenix-themed mural by a local artist. That combination — a landmark shell with a budget-lifestyle brand inside it — is what separates this Moxy from the ground-up towers the brand usually builds. PEG Hospitality Group operates the property for a guest Marriott describes as the "weekend warrior": younger travelers who want a playful, affordable stay over a conventional business hotel, and who are as likely to hang around the lobby's foosball table and record player as to use the room.

Dining & wellness

Food and beverage centers on Bar Moxy, the ground-floor bar that doubles as check-in and serves wine by the glass, local beers and specialty cocktails, including a signature "Highball 101" made with equipment PEG says is unique to the Valley. New arrivals get a complimentary welcome cocktail. A 24/7 grab-and-go market covers snacks and drinks outside bar hours, and breakfast is available to go rather than as a sit-down service. There is no full-service restaurant on site; guests looking for a proper meal step across the street into CityScape's restaurant lineup.