COVINGTON, Ky. – A once-crumbling, 148-year-old former pickle factory in Covington’s central business district has been given a new life.
An estimated 300 folks gathered last week at the building at the intersection of Tobacco and Electric alleys for the launch party of the Pickle Factory Hotel. Even though this business is new, it keeps the structure's vibrant history alive.
Each of its eight suites is themed to reflect phases of the space’s history. Two suites pay homage to the building’s first owner, Henry Wenzel, with the flair of a 19th-century aristocrat. When the building was built in 1873, it housed his soda pop factory, Covington Bottling Works, which is reflected in the bubbly theme of another suite.
In 1886, the space was repurposed. Kenton County Historical Society records show it was divided to house a chapter of the African American Odd Fellows on the third floor and a pickle factory on the first and second. Of course, guests can lodge in rooms dedicated to these histories, too.
Ownership changed hands every few years. The previous owners got the place in 1995 and used it for storage. Then, real estate developer Tony Milburn came along.