About

Back in 1998, Ted Smith, a humble old prospector, with a white handlebar moustache sat with his friends and family on the Balcony of the then shuttered Palace Hotel, the 4th of July Parade was in full procession below them. The majestic view from the Balcony sparked an idea in Ted’s mind. “Why isn’t this historic space being utilized for the citizens and visitors of Prescott?”

Ted yearned to recapture the magic of the days past, and what better place than the Historic Palace Building. Being steeped in early Arizona history, the Palace was a natural meeting spot for the citizens of Prescott. Most Ranchers, Miners, Bankers, Judges, Businessmen and Cowboys of the old days made this locale their home away from home. As you may have heard, the Palace Building had a Bordello, a Butcher shop, a Barbershop, Chinese Laundry and a Restaurant. The original blueprints made in 1900 for the first owners Brow and Belcher, clearly showed all of these elements.

Having a successful mining operation in Idaho, Ted parlayed the sale of the mine into the purchase of the Palace Building in 1993. He had a vision of refurbishing this Historic building into a top notch Saloon. He had his work cut out for him as the upstairs of the Palace was in terrible disrepair, having set empty for a decade or so.

Ted summoned his attorney and a local businessman, Marlin Kuykendall, and came up with a business plan. Prescott Architect, Doug Stroh was retained for the Design and Master plan. General Contractor, Paul Richard was hired for the restoration of the antiquated building. Besides refurbishing the Antique Bar and all of the associated woodwork in the Jersey Lilly Saloon, Ted restored the long hallway, complete with the original Transoms, Wainscot and Offices back to their original splendor. Ted then had the backside of the crumbling Historic building restored. From the leaky, old basement up to the new patio roof, the rear elevation was being brought into the 21st century. The piece de resistance was the new Cedar Deck and the Luxury Apartment, built on the alley side of the building. Sharlot Hall Museum was consulted for the Historic continuity of the design, and the unique items found during the construction were then donated to the Museum for safekeeping.

Marlin, our current mayor, was the first owner of the “Jersey Lilly Saloon.” The Grand opening was on Memorial Day 2000. The Jersey was then sold to a local businesswomen, Sherry Gagnon for a spell until it landed in the hands of the current owner, Tommy Meredith. Since 2001, Tommy has been serving up the Prescott hospitality at the Jersey Lilly Saloon in Grand Style, making the Jersey Lilly Saloon the unspoken “Hub” of Whiskey Row. The glorious Balcony, resplendent with locally mined granite columns, is a natural focal point for all of the functions on Whiskey Row.