In a major milestone for the Bronx, Joseph Simone, President of Simone Development Companies joined with community and elected leaders to celebrate the grand opening of the Bronx’s first upscale brand hotel, the 125-room Marriott Residence Inn, the centerpiece of Simone Development’s new Metro Center Atrium mixed-use project.

“We’re thrilled that Marriott, one of the world’s premier hospitality companies, chose this location. Metro Center Atrium is unique in the Bronx – there’s nothing quite like it available anywhere else in the Borough. This truly is a landmark event for Metro Center Atrium, for our company, and for the Bronx,” said Mr. Simone.

“The Marriott Residence Inn has already been a hit with business executives, hospital visitors to the nearby Bronx Medical Mile and tourists alike, averaging over 80% occupied during the initial pre-marketing shake-out period, an occupancy rate that usually takes over six months to accomplish and speaks volumes about the need for such a quality lodging alternative in the Bronx,” said Mr. Simone.

Metro Center Atrium is a 370,000-square-foot office/retail/hotel complex that Simone Development recently completed as the latest addition to its 42-acre, multi-building Hutchinson Metro Center campus.