Though buyers of this unique and mysterious hotel created a paper trail archived by the San Antonio Conservation Society, not much else is known about the goings-on at the Havana prior to 1973.

In 1891, Edward Franz Melcher, son of a German immigrant, moved to San Antonio. Soon he was a successful grocer and entrepreneur. The Havana, which would sit on a tract of land along the riverwalk purchased for $7,500 in 1909, was originally built to house Melcher's wholesale grocery buyers. Arthur J. Herrmann of San Antonio served as the architect on the project and the Havana Building opened in 1914. Many of the cypress, palm, and magnolia trees originally planted still remain today. During the 12 years Melcher spent living with his wife, Kathinka, in the Havana, he deeded a portion of the Havana's property to the city for river walk realignment and development.

Nat Washer bought the Havana in 1926 and he would own it through the Roaring 20s during which San Antonio expanded rapidly. Washer played a large role in the construction of the Scottish Rite Temple, the YMCA, and the Municipal Auditorium located within a stone's throw of the Havana. After Washer sold the Havana to business associates in the late 1920s, Lucille J.  Oppenheimer, a relative of Washer's, eventually purchased it and would carry it through the initial stage of the dismal Great Depression.

In 1931, the father of Morris Jaffe, a prominent San Antonio businessman, bought the Havana and Jaffe's mother took on the project of restoring it to its previous state as a fine hotel. Sometime during the mid-1930s, Nelda Mendenhall leased the hotel and rented rooms to residents and a few businesses.

For the next (roughly) 40 years, historical documents lack any significant information about the hotel's operations or owners. In 1973, Jaffe sold the Havana to the Havana Venture. Again, eleven years go by undocumented until Heinze Home Builders Inc. and Bennett-Williams Co. buy the building in a joint venture with intentions to restore it for use as a restaurant and executive offices. It was then listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 but by 1988 had fallen into the portfolio of the Resolution Trust Corp, an asset management company charged with liquidating. After two years of bids and proposals, Theresa Greer was finally able to purchase the building in 1992.

Time-line

2010: Havana Riverwalk Inn under renovations and reopens in April.

2009: Bunkhouse Management purchases Havana Riverwalk Inn

1997: Havana Riverwalk Inn on Navarro opens in April.

1992: After two years of bids and proposals, Theresa Greer, an experienced property buyer and restorer, purchased the Havana.

1988: The building passed into the portfolio of Resolution Trust Corp.

1986: The Havana was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

1984: Heinze Home Builders Inc. and Bennett-Williams Co. bought it with intentions to restore it for use as restaurant and executive offices.

1973: Jaffe sold the Havana to the Havana Venture.

Mid 1930s - 1973: History of the Havana is unclear, little is known about the building's operations.

Mid 1930s: Nelda Mendenhall leased the hotel and rented rooms to residents and a few businesses.

1931: After having barely survived the Depression, the hotel was purchased by Morris Jaffe's father. Jaffe's mother restored it to its former position as a fine hotel. Most of the guests were telephone operators who worked at the Southwestern Bell Telephone Tower.

Late 1920s: Washer sold the Havana to business associates and it was eventually purchased by his relative, Lucille J. Oppenheimer.

The Roaring 20s: San Antonio developed at a rapid pace. During this time, Washer was instrumental in the construction of the Scottish Rite Temple, the YMCA, and the Municipal Auditorium.

1926: Nat Washer bought the Havana from Melcher.

1920: Melcher deeded a portion of the Havana's property to the city for realignment and development. According to some records, Melcher and his wife Kathinka lived in the building for 12 years.

1914: Architect Arthur J. Herrmann of San Antonio completed the Havana building and it was opened.

1909: Edward Franz Melcher purchased the 1015 Navarro tract of riverfront property from the Ursuline Academy for $7,500 to house wholesale grocery buyers.