Orange mortuary set to transform into a boutique hotel

As of March, Shannon Family Mortuary moved locations, making room for the newest addition to Old Towne Orange: the Orange Plaza Inn. CLARISSE GUEVARRA, Staff Photographer

With a boundless enthusiasm to bring style to the city of Orange, property owner Hicham Semaan’s heart was set on one business venture: to bring a high-end boutique hotel, the Orange Plaza Inn, to the historical Old Towne Orange.

Up until March 1, the building Semaan now owns was home to the city’s local mortuary, Shannon Family Mortuary, since 1933. With Semaan’s desire for a new business came the former’s inevitable relocation; although they were forced to transfer elsewhere, Julie Link, the funeral director of Shannon Family Mortuary, said the move has been good for business. Considering the mortuary only moved down a couple of blocks on Chapman Avenue, Link says their customers have been able to easily find the new location. 

“It was a big change and adjustment for the community, but everyone has backed us up,” Link said. “We’ve sent emails to a lot of people and are doing a lot of community outreach and everyone’s been supportive of the move. The families always tell us that they love the new place and feel that it’s more homey than the old location.”

The mortuary moved locations just before the initial COVID-19 lockdown in March. Although Semaan recently received city approval to begin construction of the boutique hotel, the plan had been in the works for months. When the pandemic erupted, Semaan was concerned about how it might impact his business, but remained hopeful that cases would subside prior to his grand opening.

“With the amount of time that it would take us to complete the approval process, do the construction and then open for business, we were hoping by that time COVID-19 would no longer be an issue,” Semaan said. “We’re just beginning the construction phase and that’ll be about 10 to 12 months, so we are slated to open by the end of 2021 (or) early 2022.”

The boutique hotel’s construction is anticipated to be completed in 10 to 12 months. Photo courtesy of Hicham Semaan

As opposed to a hotel with a large number of rooms for guests, Semaan’s Orange Plaza Inn will be a boutique hotel, with a smaller number of rooms that are typically classier and higher-end. With a plan to cosmetically remodel the building and restore its original 1906 Victorian sophistication, Semaan hopes the improvements of the building’s appearance will call attention to the new operation. 

He also believes the inn’s amenities will separate his business from others like it. Despite only having 12 rooms, a courtyard, an event and media space, on-site restaurant, a bar selling coffee and alcohol and a lounge area, Semaan aims to provide his guests with a relaxing experience. 

“It doesn’t have a large number of rooms, but it will have all the amenities of a typical guest room and will hopefully be considered more of a higher-end boutique inn,” Semaan said. 

Semaan also speculates that the inn’s close proximity to restaurants, shops and Chapman University will attract outside visitors, which will simultaneously help the surrounding businesses of Old Towne Orange gain more customers.

“It will be in such a quaint area,” Semaan said. “Our goal is to bring back the history of the property, which matches the history of the area, and at the same time provide a classy, elegant event space and guest rooms that enhance the community.”