The Scottish Origins of Downtown Phoenix’s Mid-Century Motel Masterpiece

Downtown Phoenix’s economical lodging alternative, the Friendship Inn Motel, was once regal accommodations, at least by the sound of its original name. The Imperial 400 Motor Hotel featured a thrifty Scotsman in a kilt and the slogan, “Aye, Royal Accommodations at ‘Thr-rifty’ Rates,” which targeted consumers who may not have had access to a noble largesse. The Imperial 400, featuring 71 rooms, opened near Five Points just south of Van Buren Street, along Seventh Avenue in 1961. The motor hotel was built by the Daum-Donaldson Construction Co. and designed by the architectural firm Buchli and As