“Simply put: Equality is good for business,” says Don Granatstein, without irony. We are discussing the Supreme Court same-sex marriage decision as Granatstein arrives at New York’s LaGuardia International Airport.
With his wife, Susan Unger, Granatstein has owned the iconic Parliament House Orlando since 1999. The venerable Central Florida resort and nightclub—which includes a 120-room hotel, swimming pool, a 10,000 square foot entertainment complex, dance floor, and outdoor stage—turns 40 this summer, but Granatstein and Unger have no plans to let the “old girl” show her age.
“We are in a very exciting transition,” Granatstein explains, referring to both the resort and the geographic area that surrounds it.
“University of Central Florida is building a new campus for 13,000 media arts students just two blocks from Parliament House, and we are in talks with a major hotel chain—which wants to accommodate the gay community—about the property we own next door, and building a 125-all-suites hotel there.
“The future is looking very bright,” he adds.
The landmark resort and around-the-clock nightspot began its life in the 1960s as a motor lodge called the Abbey, which was situated along a highly traveled section of US Highway 441 (known in Orlando as Orange Blossom Trail).
But business began to suffer later that decade when Interstate 4 opened for traffic, becoming the preferred route for Central Florida travelers, and diverting potential customers. The Cold War era resort was forced to close while new owners for the property were sought.
The Parliament House Motor Inn opened its doors as a gay resort and watering hole on June 10, 1975, the brainchild of life-and-business-partners Bill Miller and Mike Hodge, who had owned a number of Orlando-area businesses since the late 60s.
The intervening years saw many changes for both Central Florida and the resort (which dropped the words “Motor Inn” from its name as the term lost popularity in the late 70s). Walt Disney World officially opened four years before the “gaying” of Parliament House, and construction on Disney’s many-themed areas would be a boon to business for both P-House and the rest of Orlando’s hospitality industry.
As a performing venue, Parliament House hosted the top entertainers of each era, including Eartha Kitt, Chaka Khan, Andy Bell of singing duo Erasure, Leslie Jordan, Leann Rimes, and Lil’ Kim.
The Orlando boom—and a more open and tolerant attitude that accompanied it—would prove a double-edged sword. Although the “Mouse” brought welcomed economic expansion to Central Florida, there were other changes—social ones—which impacted the area’s LGBT community and its preferred hang-outs. The Parliament House was no exception.
With the Clinton Era, many LGBT Americans perceived and experienced a new societal openness, which translated to spending less time—and dollars—in exclusively gay and gay-owned businesses. When P-House owner Hodge died in 1992, the property was inherited by his family members, who had little expertise in managing and marketing a resort that catered to gays. The property began to show its age, as well as the neglect of its more-or-less absentee caretakers.
The venerable institution floundered until 1999, when husband-and-wife Granatstein and Unger purchased the property.
Toronto natives, Granatstein and Unger lived in Las Vegas, where, among other business ventures, they had partnered with entertainment legend Debbie Reynolds in her planned Debbie Reynolds’ Hollywood Hotel near the Las Vegas Strip.
“Debbie has a huge gay following,” Granatstein notes, “so we have a lot of friends and business relationships in the community.”
He recalls: “Susan and I were staying at our timeshare in Orlando when the opportunity to purchase Parliament House presented itself. Susan said, ‘I want a gay hotel.’ It was a great opportunity, and since we loved working with the gay community in Las Vegas, we were excited about the prospects of creating something special in Central Florida.”
He credits Unger with providing much of the guiding vision.
“Susan does everything. She’s the contractor, the decorator, the creative process,” he explains. “I’m the business side.”
While retrieving his luggage at LaGuardia’s baggage carousels, Granatstein mused about the recent pace of social changes with regards to LGBT rights.
“Sixteen years ago, when Susan and I purchased the resort, there was still an undercurrent of hostility,” he recollects. “We had people picketing outside the hotel, protests, and bomb threats.”
He juxtaposes that uncertain time with more recent events, including the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage.
“We weren’t fighting for ‘marriage equality’—we were fighting for equality,” Granatstein stresses with conviction. “That’s the real victory.”
He acknowledges the challenges that he and Unger have faced, and the ones still to come.
Last year, Parliament House filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing $15.5 million in debt. According to records, the complex defaulted on loans during the 2009 recession, and has struggled with foreclosure and refinancing issues.
That hasn’t ebbed the tide of Granatstein’s enthusiasm, both for his and Unger’s resort and for their future plans.
“There are always going to be challenges, but that can’t stand in the way of your dreams.”
Looking to the future, Granatstein says there’s a lot on his and Unger’s plate to keep them busy, and in those plans, the Parliament House features prominently.
“As I said, the future is looking very bright. We have plans to open the world’s first gay country club, and we are very actively looking at property to open up a new hotel in Fort Lauderdale, and one in Key West. And, you now, I AM in New York for a reason.”
