The West Hollywood EDITION hotel has a new power player behind the scenes. British billionaire brothers Simon and David Reuben have taken control of the luxury spot on the Sunset Strip after an affiliate assumed the property this month, capping months of debt drama around the 190-room complex at 9040 W. Sunset Boulevard. A deed in lieu recorded in April lists about $211 million in outstanding debt, leaving neighbors, staff and the owners of the building’s 20 condos waiting to see what the new era will actually look like.
Property records show control shifted to an affiliate of Motcomb Estates, the Reubens’ investment vehicle, after the brothers were listed as the foreclosing beneficiary and later named substitute trustee, according to The Real Deal. That report notes the April deed in lieu reflects roughly $211 million in unpaid debt and that the Reuben brothers had previously acquired the J.P. Morgan loan tied to the hotel. Representatives for the parties involved did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to the outlet.
What’s at stake at 9040 Sunset
The West Hollywood EDITION opened in 2019 as the Edition brand’s West Coast flagship. The property packs in about 190 rooms, 48 suites that include two penthouses, and 20 private residences, according to the hotel’s listing. In 2021, developer Witkoff lined up a roughly $228–$230 million refinancing arranged by J.P. Morgan and Mack Real Estate Credit Strategies, a move that bought time and pushed back foreclosure pressure, according to Commercial Observer. A signature restaurant and a guests-only rooftop pool round out the offerings and serve as key revenue engines for the high-profile asset.
How the Reubens moved in
The brothers’ involvement with the property did not start with this spring’s deed transfer. Their Motcomb Estates vehicle was already circling the West Hollywood EDITION in 2021, when it pursued a UCC foreclosure as a mezzanine lender, The Real Deal reported at the time. Witkoff sidestepped an immediate loss of the hotel by securing the 2021 refinancing, but the Reubens kept working the capital stack, buying into different pieces of the debt. That positioning ultimately allowed them to exercise lender remedies and accept a deed in lieu in April, effectively converting their role from lender to owner instead of closing a traditional sale.
A pattern in play
This is not the first time the Reubens have used credit bids and foreclosure tools to gain control of a marquee Los Angeles project. They employed a similar playbook with the Century Plaza redevelopment in 2023, GlobeSt reported. Given that history, it would not be surprising if they hold the West Hollywood EDITION while weighing whether to recapitalize the property, reposition it or put it on the market, a process that often drags out over many months. For residents, retailers and hotel staff, that typically translates into business as usual on the ground while the ownership and capital structure are quietly reworked in the background.
What to watch next
For anyone tracking the fate of 9040 Sunset, the key tea leaves will be public records and official statements. That includes new documents at the Los Angeles County Recorder’s office, any fresh UCC or trustee filings, and any formal word from the Edition brand or Witkoff about management or a potential sale process. Market watchers will also be zeroed in on whether the Reubens keep the current hotel operator or pursue a recapitalization that reshapes the capital stack and long-term business plan. We will update this report if new public filings emerge or if any of the parties issue on-the-record comment.
