Fort Wayne, IND – July 14, 2021 – The Bradley, Fort Wayne, Indiana’s up-and-coming boutique hotel created in partnership with hotel owner and operator, Provenance, and Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, co-founder of the iconic women’s fashion label Vera Bradley, will officially open Thursday, July 15. Born of Midwestern charm and modern design sensibilities, the 124-room hotel will serve as the epicenter of entertaining and hospitality in the growing urban center of Fort Wayne, complete with nine specially designed suites, a rotating art gallery and two restaurants including a rooftop bar.
“With the launch of The Bradley, a long-time dream of mine is finally coming to life, and I couldn’t be more excited to welcome everyone to my hometown: the historic city of Fort Wayne,” said Baekgaard. “The Bradley will offer a piece of the rich Fort Wayne community to each guest who calls the hotel home, playing a major role in contributing to the city’s continued growth. It is my hope that the hotel will serve as an extension of my own home for a community I love and for those traveling in the city.”
The Bradley: Artfully Inspired
In keeping with Provenance’s mission to celebrate the arts and its creators, The Bradley will illuminate the bright talent of Fort Wayne by featuring locally sourced art throughout the hotel to tell the city’s story.
Each guest room will include commissioned custom botanical-inspired letterpress prints by local artist, Julie Wall of HEDGE Studios. Additionally, the hotel will feature a revolving art gallery in the main lobby in partnership with Purdue University Fort Wayne Department of Art and Design. The gallery will highlight artwork by students, faculty and alumni, and the works on display can be made available for purchase. Additional works created by local artist Theoplis Smith III, aka Phresh Laundry, known for his pop culture art installations and larger-than-life murals placed around the city, will be on prominent display within the hotel’s public spaces.
“Art is a part of our DNA at Provenance, and we are proud to be able to showcase the uniqueness of Fort Wayne and the city’s creators through The Bradley’s art installations,” said Katherine Durant, CEO and President of Provenance. “As a Provenance Hotel, the property will become a canvas for the city’s exceptional talent, shining a light on the originality and creativity of the local culture that exists and thrives here.”
Unique Design Features at The Bradley
Dutch East Design, a New-York based interior design and branding firm, led the design concept of The Bradley’s interior. Upon arrival, the lobby opens into an inviting lounge, creating a warm ambiance marked by rich fabrics and textures like a stained wood ceiling and wall panels and custom-designed pendants and furnishings. Decorative free-standing screens, outlined in fine bronze frames and textured sheers, lead the way to reception. Tying it all together, the reception desk and matching communal table are adorned with curated art, and custom five-pronged, bronze chandeliers that cast warm light to fill the space.
The inspiration for the deluxe and premier guestrooms comes from Baekgaard’s own personal style, shown through a mix of soft sophistication and vibrant pops of color, including floral headboards in the bedroom and custom wallpaper in the bathroom. The Bradley also features nine suites of varying configurations. Paying homage to the Hoosier state, all suites are named after a city in Indiana, with two suites designed by Provenance Hotels’ Katherine Durant and the remaining by Baekgaard. Feature details range from separate seating areas and walk-in rain showers to some with freestanding tubs, wet bars and outdoor balconies.
Top-Tier Dining Experiences: Arbor and Birdie’s
Located on the ground level, Arbor is positioned to be the culinary heartbeat of the property, offering a glassed-in private dining area as well as seasonal outdoor patio seating. With a name rooted in the city’s natural beauty and treelined trails, the restaurant presents a sophisticated mix of traditional and contemporary design – sunlit by day and illuminated by night – and as notable for its aesthetic as its cuisine. Stirring familiar feelings of home-cooked favorites, Arbor’s menu features modern American fare, each approachable dish offers an elevated twist using locally sourced ingredients. For breakfast, grab an Egg BLT and a coffee from local purveyor, Utopian Coffee, or favorites like buttermilk fried chicken and “grown up” grilled cheese, to classic chicken pot pie for lunch and dinner, respectively.
Birdie’s, The Bradley’s rooftop bar, is named after Baekgaard, honoring a nickname given to her by her eldest grandchild for her love of birds. In the vibrant space, casual and comfortable by design, diners can settle in at the indoor bar – which serves as the focal point – or among the textured banquettes spaced throughout. Outfitted with a welcoming palette of sienna, terra cotta, deep-sea blues and creams, Birdie’s also features an outdoor rooftop terrace overlooking downtown Fort Wayne, fully embracing its carefree spirit and light-hearted fun. Here, locals and guests alike can kick back around a central fireplace and sip on classic cocktails. Menu items range from casual bites like fried chicken sandwiches and hearty offerings like sourdough French toast for weekend brunch.
Indulge in Amenities at The Bradley
Overnight guests at The Bradley also have the opportunity to experience Provenance Signature guest services, such as locally sourced honor bars; pet-friendly amenities; Well + Fit kits delivered to guests’ rooms; an on-site fitness center with both a Peloton bike and MIRROR; as well as complimentary bicycles available to explore the city’s nearby parks and trails.
Event Spaces at The Bradley
Airy, modern and sophisticated, The Bradley offers 2,000 square feet of tastefully appointed meeting space. By design, each of the three meeting rooms is styled in a soft, inviting palette of cream and light blues, accentuated by floor-to-ceiling windows and an abundance of natural light, plus the rotating art gallery of original works which creates a one-of-a-kind backdrop for events.
Allen, the largest event space with more than 1,100 square feet, is ideal for weddings; Wells is second in size with striking full-length windows; and Whitney maintains a boardroom-style space, perfect for important business affairs.
Explore the Destination
Continuing the momentum of Fort Wayne’s downtown and waterfront revitalization, the hotel joins recent tourism developments including The Landing, a vibrant mix of independent businesses and restaurants, and Promenade Park, an innovative and interactive destination for recreation, arts and culture. With a rich pool of artistic talent, Fort Wayne offers a robust arts scene spanning theater, dance, fine art and music. The highly accessible downtown Arts Campus includes Freimann Square, where seasonal festivals and events are held, as well as the Arts United Center, Fort Wayne Museum of Art and more. The Bradley is centrally located in the downtown Fort Wayne area and within walking distance to these developments, allowing guests to easily enjoy all the arts and cultural opportunities the city has to offer.
For more information on The Bradley and Provenance, please visit www.bradleyhotel.com and/or www.provenance.com.
