The Matthews Hotel is an important part of Akron's history. The hotel, owned and operated by George Mathews, was one of the few that accepted Black patrons during segregated times and because of that, it became a hub of Black culture and talent and welcomed guests like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, and others. The hotel remained open until 1978 when the city began buying up property for the Innerbelt project and the building was sadly demolished along with many others on N. How