CHARLESTON, South Carolina—Charlestowne Hotels announced its expansion in the Midwest with the boutique property Hotel Verdant. The 80-room adaptive reuse project in Racine, Wisconsin, is located in what was once the Zahn’s Department Store building, a shopping location. Vacant for the past 40 years, the Monument Square landmark is downtown’s newest hotel built in decades.
“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.”
The guestrooms and suites were designed to bring the outdoors inside, incorporating hygge, the Danish term to describe feelings of wellness and contentment. Through a partnership with the Racine Art Museum—located across the street from the hotel—guestrooms and public areas have with nearly 200 works of original local art. The selected works reflect the hotel’s investment in sustainability through expression of community and place, and in many instances, the incorporation of natural and recycled materials to repurpose environmental “waste.”
Hotel Verdant has an Italian restaurant, Marguerite, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. The rooftop bar and restaurant, Eave, has 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 an events destination, the 3,500-square-foot Belle Ballroom will accommodate wedding guests and meeting attendees.
“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.”
