Cornerstone Hospitality opens the historic Hotel Elkhart, a member of the Hilton Tapestry Collection
Elkhart, Indiana – (September 23, 2021) – Cressy Commercial Real Estate along with partner Mno-Bmadsen, the non-gaming investment arm of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, announced today that the historic Hotel Elkhart located in Elkhart, Indiana will celebrate its grand opening on September 28, 2021.
After over two years of construction and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the iconic Hotel Elkhart will reopen as a hotel again after 98 years. The property is located in the historic Elkhart downtown on Main Street and joins Tapestry Collection by Hilton, a global portfolio of unique, upscale properties. The property was originally constructed as a hotel in 1923 and featured a coffee shop, restaurant and various meeting spaces. During this time, it served as a hub for business leaders, travelers and even some notable people in history such as Ed Sullivan and Robert Kennedy. The building functioned as a hotel until the early 1970’s and then was utilized as an office building and apartment complex. It has also housed several different restaurants and retail spaces over the years.
“The redevelopment of this complex project was not an easy task. It required the commitment, perseverance, and partnership from both the public and private sectors to bring it to fruition. This includes the love and support of so many from the Elkhart community who share Hotel Elkhart’s long and rich history. How fitting that we stand together here today celebrating the rebirth of the Hotel Elkhart nearly a century after its initial opening,” said Edward Bradley, partner and senior vice president, Cressy Commercial Real Estate.
The property offers 93 beautifully curated guest rooms; two restaurants, ballroom, meeting space and a rooftop bar. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served in Relish Café & Convections featuring fresh-made daily pastries, breads and desserts; crafted coffees utilizing local Goshen roaster Refinery Coffee and specialty chocolates by a notable Mishawaka chocolatier Sanaa. The three-meal-a-day restaurant will also serve well-crafted salads, sandwiches and soups along with other locally produced items. The Corner Bar rightfully placed on the corner of Main Street and Marion Street, offers high-end cocktails, small-plates and lite-fare dinner. Additionally, the newly redesigned Aria Ballroom and Prelude pre-function space located on the 9th floor will accommodate larger groups such as weddings, corporate events and conferences. The property also offers small meeting rooms and boardrooms. Lastly, guests and locals will enjoy The High Note, the property’s rooftop bar, with sights of downtown and views of the surrounding county for miles.
Great care has been taken to preserve much of historical elements of the building, including the beautiful plaster ceilings in the lobby with intricate relief moldings, the terrazzo floors on the first-floor lobby and food and beverage spaces, along with the ballroom ceiling and cornices and the second-floor mezzanine windows, which have all been thoughtfully restored.
“When you have the opportunity to renovate a building that is almost 100 years old, that opportunity comes with the responsibility of ensuring the renovation maintains the authenticity of the building. This type of property has a storied past and has endured in its footprint serving the citizens of Elkhart for almost a century. Telling the history of this community in a creative way that engages with visitors and leaves a lasting and positive impression of Elkhart is what makes these properties successful,” said Kimberly Christner, president and CEO, Cornerstone Hospitality. “Hotel Elkhart is the Grand Dame of Downtown Elkhart and we’re excited start making new stories with the guests who stay with us as well as the Elkhart community.”
"Downtown Elkhart has needed a hotel to support the growing businesses in this area, including the fabulous Lerner Theatre. The addition of the Elkhart Health & Aquatics center, new apartments, restaurants and shops downtown make it the perfect time to bring this hotel back to life. There also is not an upscale or boutique hotel in the region offering accommodations to guests looking for an elevated experience,” said Bradley. “As local business owners, we’re proud to bring this beauty back to life and to add to the downtown experience both for our out-of-town visitors and locals alike.”
The development is championed by Cressy Commercial Development, Mno-Bmadsen, the non-gaming investment arm of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, the City of Elkhart and the Regional Cities program from the State of Indiana. Additionally, various grants, traditional lending and historic tax credits will fund the project. Cressy Commercial Development is the contractor on the project; interior design is provided by Interior Image Group of Crown Point; architectural services by Joseph A. Dzierla and Associates; branding by Heart+Matter Brands, Richmond, Virginia; and pre-opening and post-opening hospitality operations management by Cornerstone Hospitality, LLC, Williamsburg, Virginia.
“It is incredibly important to us that the property tell the story of Elkhart – through the building itself as well as through the interior design and curated services the property will offer,” said Bradley. “Elkhart has so many great stories of people and world-changing businesses. It is our desire for the property and our team to create an authentic experience and to share little bits and pieces of Elkhart with every guest who enters our doors so they will love our town as much as we do.”
“We’re incredibly honored to be a partner on this investment and are excited to see this property brought back to life in what are the ancestral lands of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. It is a labor of love. Love for Elkhart and love for our community as a whole,” said Julio Martinez, CEO, Mno Bmadsen.
Hotel Elkhart, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is also part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton's 18 world-class brands. Members who book directly through the preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Hilton Honors Points and money to book a stay, free standard Wi-Fi and an exclusive member discount that can't be found anywhere else. Members also enjoy popular digital tools available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app where Hilton Honors members can check-in, choose their room and access their room using a Digital Key.
For more information on Hotel Elkhart, Tapestry Collection by Hilton or to make a reservation, please visit (www.hotelelkhart.com).