ProvidenceTuesday, November 3
Providence's Graduate hotel, the former Biltmore, is headed to auction on Jan. 20
The Morning Warwick team
If you've ever looked up at the red letters atop the old Biltmore, here's the news: the Graduate Providence Hotel is set for auction on Jan. 20 in New York City, according to a public sale notice. The legal notice was published Oct. 25, and AJ Capital Partners owns the property while Hilton operates it.
The Biltmore's path from 1922 to a January auction
- 1922The Biltmore opens on Dorrance Street next to Providence City Hall.
- 2019The hotel is renamed the Graduate and keeps its rooftop sign.
- Oct. 25A legal notice of the auction is published.
- Jan. 20The hotel will be put up for auction in New York City.
Sources: WJAR, WPRI.com, The Providence Journal
Go Local Prov reports the notice lists the Providence property's first-priority mortgage at an unpaid principal balance of $36,348,298 as of Sept. 1, 2026.
Most of the Providence hotel's original loan is still unpaid
Source: Go Local Prov
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Original loan | $43.2M |
| Unpaid, Sept. 1, 2026 | $36.3M |
An auction doesn't mean the Graduate will close: WJAR says a winning bidder could apply to Hilton to keep running the franchise. The owner and general manager didn't respond when asked about upcoming events or bookings.
- Address: 11 Dorrance St.
- Rooms: 294
- Event space: more than 18,000 square feet
Sources: WJAR, WPRI.com, The Providence Journal, Go Local Prov