The 'Pontch' Hotel Comes Alive Downtown in June

In its day it was known as the "Pontch", an upscale hotel that first opened in 1907.

Over the years, seven presidents stayed there and plenty big shots saddled up to the bar including Horace and John Dodge, William Durant of General Motors, Louis Chevrolet and the Lelands of Cadillac, according to Dan Austin's website HistoricDetroit.org.

Then it fell on hard times and closed. It's been vacant since 2009.

Now, the Crowne Plaza Pontchartrain is taking reservations for the opening on  June 15.  A room starts at $169 a night, according to Curbed Detroit.