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SEATTLE (AP) - Alex Calderwood, the Seattle co-founder of the hip Ace Hotel chain, has died at age 47.
The company said on its website he passed away Thursday, but released no information about the cause. The statement called Calderwood "our teacher, mentor, guru and most importantly our dear friend." News reports said he died in London.
In 1999, he helped launch Seattle's Ace Hotel in a flophouse that formerly served maritime workers. It's renowned for its style, with repurposed furniture, record players and guestroom art by Shepard Fairey _ who later became famous for creating the "HOPE" poster that came to symbolize Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.
Ace Hotels later opened in Los Angeles, New York, London and elsewhere.
Calderwood also started a chain of barbershops called Rudy's in Seattle, with locations now in Los Angeles, New York and Portland, Ore.
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