The building formerly known as the Korona Hotel, and later as the headquarters of KISZÖV, reopened in 2022 after a complete exterior and interior renovation as a municipal cultural and community venue under the name Korona Szalon.

Travelling back in time, the area stretching between today’s house at Kazinczy Square 11 and Deák Square formed a single large plot in the early 1800s. In its courtyard a small, single-storey inn stood notable for housing the city’s first casino, founded in 1838 and frequented in the 1840s by the esteemed statesman Ferenc Deák.

In 1858, a new building was erected along the street front. Until 1894 when the newly built Arany Bárány Hotel with its grand ballroom was completed, the main hall of the Korona Hotel was considered the most elegant event space in the city. It is known that the Polgári Szalon, a key local civic association, was founded here in 1877. (The building’s renovated cultural centre adopted the name Korona Szalon by combining the historic hotel’s name with this early civic organisation.)

In 1913, architect Lajos Szente purchased the property for 70,000 crowns, the currency used back  then, intending to replace it with a sophisticated two-storey inn and hotel. His plans were prevented by the outbreak of the First World War. Between the two world wars, the building once again functioned as a hotel, and its grand hall continued to serve as a popular venue for social gatherings.

After 1945, during the first years of the communist dictatorship, the hotel was nationalised and its interior simplified. In 1959 it became the headquarters of KISZÖV (the National Association of Small Industrial Cooperatives), whose renowned folk dance ensemble also operated here.

Following its modern restoration, Korona Szalon has been reborn as a vibrant cultural and community space, hosting literary evenings, string quartet concerts, discussion forums, concerts, exhibitions, and conferences.