Alabama is set to get its first Hard Rock hotel. The REVERB hotel is slated for downtown Florence.

The eight-story building will replace the Days Inn hotel, which has stood vacant for 15 years, in the heart of Florence. Sak Capital Partners is spearheading construction.

Florence was chosen in part due to its proximity to Muscle Shoals, which has a rich music history. It is near the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and FAME Studios. Icons like Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones and Willie Nelson have recorded music in the Shoals.

“Hard Rock International recognized the Muscle Shoals & Florence community’s music heritage and contribution to all things in modern music, specifically the rock, country and gospel genres,” developer and president Eugene Sak said. “Hard Rock is the largest collector and preservationist of modern music memorabilia and culture in the world.”

The Hard Rock is the first hotel to be built in Florence since 2010, but Sak said tourism has doubled in the area.

The hotel will have the area’s music history throughout the building, along with 155 guest rooms, 2,000 square feet of meeting space and more.

The REVERB hotel is similar to the traditional Hard Rock hotel. It’s still an upscale hotel with a recording studio, live music venues and restaurants, according to Sak. It just does not include gaming associated with the property.

Sak says the hotel is expected to create over 200 jobs, bring $1.3 billion to the local economy and attract more than 68,000 annual visitors to Florence.

The REVERB Hard Rock hotel was a recipient of a tax rebate from the Sweet Home Alabama Tourism Investment Act. Sak said incentives like this were necessary to make this project a reality because “the local private market could not support this upscale project in its early years.”

In the past year, the city has received revates, held public hearings and rezoned the area to bring the hotel giant to the Shoals.

Sak said demolition is set for later this year. It’s expected to be open in 2028.