Charleston, SC – August 7, 2023 – Leading hospitality management company Charlestowne Hotels announces its continued expansion in the Midwest with the sustainable boutique property Hotel Verdant, which opens today. The 80-room adaptive reuse project in Racine, Wisconsin, is located in what was once the Zahn’s Department Store building, an iconic shopping destination popular with residents since 1898. Vacant for the past 40 years, the Monument Square landmark is downtown’s newest hotel built in decades, preserving and respecting the building’s historical elements while incorporating numerous sustainable, energy-reducing design and operational features.
“Charlestowne specializes in managing adaptive reuse projects and properties situated in secondary markets, making Hotel Verdant a dream hotel for us,” said Kyle Hughey, CEO of Charlestowne Hotels. “We understand how to amplify the legacy of beloved establishments, ushering in thoughtful and intentional changes to give historic spaces a second life for the modern era. Racine is a hidden gem tucked between Milwaukee and Chicago, and we’re looking forward to introducing travelers to the city’s splendor and charm through the amenities and experiences at Hotel Verdant.”
Hotel Verdant is on track to become a LEED Certified boutique hotel that’s both friendly to the environment and inspired by it. With idyllic views of Lake Michigan, the tranquil nature-infused guest rooms and suites were designed to bring the beauty of outdoors inside, incorporating hygge, the Danish term to describe coziness, comfort, and feelings of wellness and contentment. Sunlight streaming through large windows preserved from the original building will accent soft, Scandinavian colors, reinforcing the three brand pillars from which the aesthetic was developed: “naturally minded, warmly welcoming, and deeply rooted.” Through a partnership with the Racine Art Museum—located across the street from the hotel—guest rooms and public areas are adorned with nearly 200 works of original local art. The selected works reflect the hotel’s investment in sustainability through thoughtful expression of community and place, and in many instances, the incorporation of natural and recycled materials to repurpose environmental “waste.”
Hotel Verdant features an Italian restaurant, Marguerite, offering healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner options with a hearth-fired spin. The rooftop bar and restaurant, Eave, is sure to become a destination for travelers and locals with its shareable plates and botanical cocktails and mocktails made with ingredients sourced from the rooftop garden. Additional sustainable touch points include the hotel’s green roof, solar panels, and wind turbines, from which on-site energy is produced. Transforming Racine into a go-to events destination, the elegant, 3,500-square-foot Belle Ballroom will accommodate wedding guests and meeting attendees in style.
“We understand the positive impact a boutique hotel can have on a downtown and a city-at-large,” says Michael O’Connor, Chairman/Principal of Dominion Properties, the ownership group behind Hotel Verdant. “Charlestowne’s tailored management style allows us to embrace our role as ‘Racine’s Living Room’ by drawing travelers in through thoughtful programming, creative culinary offerings and curated guest services, further transforming us into the home base for discovering the culture and natural beauty of Racine, Wisconsin.”
Hotel Verdant is located at 500 Main St., two blocks from Lake Michigan and Racine Harbor. The property is Charlestowne’s second in Wisconsin and joins six other boutique hotels in the company’s Midwest portfolio, including the award-winning Deer Path Inn (Lake Forest, IL). For more information about Charlestowne Hotels’ full suite of hospitality management services, visit CharlestowneHotels.com.
