Charlestowne Hotels Expands Presence in Midwest with Hotel Verdant

August 7, 2023

Charlestowne Hotels announced Monday the opening of sustainable 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, 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, according to a press release. With 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. 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, has shareable plates and botanical cocktails and mocktails made with ingredients sourced from the rooftop garden.

“We understand the positive impact a boutique hotel can have on a downtown and a city-at-large,” said 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.”