[2]: 103  It is one of the few remaining examples of Victorian Italianate, cast iron architecture on the West Coast.

[8] In addition to its use as a hotel, the building "has also housed a bar, brothel, billiards hall, and most notoriously, a cracker factory", wrote author Bart King in 2007.

[7][11] In December 1968, a furniture store became the first post-remodel tenant, occupying one-quarter of the ground-floor space.

[4] In a 1979 article, The Oregonian wrote that the "former Merchants Hotel in Old Town went from virtually abandoned building to cornerstone of Old Town business district, thanks to vision of Bill [Naito] and Sam Naito,"[12] of Skidmore Development Company.

[3] Among the current tenants are Old Town Pizza[13] and the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center,[14] which includes the Japanese American History Museum.