Illinois
Verve Events, the latest venture from the team behind Verve Wine—a wine retailer with locations in Chicago, New York City and San Francisco—opened in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood in late fall.
As an evolution of the space formerly occupied by Argot restaurant, Verve Events transformed the venue to offer the ability to host private events complete with top-tier food vendors, curated wine selections and premium hospitality touches.
The Verve Events venue accommodates up to 60 guests for seated dinners and 80 for standing receptions, with additional seasonal seating for 20 on the patio. Featuring bistro-inspired interiors with dark wood furniture, chic banquettes, French New Wave decor and a lime-washed back wall, the space is highlighted by a custom mural from local artist, Angelo Dolojan.
A 14-seat bar, a private dining room for 12 and a professional kitchen for limited rental complete the venue’s amenities.
[Related: New Venues, Hotels and Accessibility Initiatives Across MidAmerica]
Indiana
Situated in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, the Omni Severin Hotel completed a $24 million renovation, honoring its original architecture and Art Deco roots dating to the property’s 1913 opening while also incorporating modern conveniences.
The Omni Severin Hotel features 424 guest rooms that draw inspiration from the bygone era of train travel, a reference to Indianapolis’ history in rail since the turn of the 20th century and the hotel’s location across the street from Indianapolis Union Station. The hotel’s 36 suites offer a variety of features such as lofts, floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies overlooking the city skyline.
The hotel’s reimagined lobby acts as a central gathering space leading to the reception desk, featuring a mural depicting the billowing smoke from a train engine. On either side of the reception desk are dining options: Bar Cardinale, offering dinner and specialty drinks; and 8th Notch Café & Market, inspired by a high-speed train and a 1900s-era corner diner.
The Omni Severin Hotel offers 17,000 square feet of meeting space including the 2,440-square-foot Severin Ballroom, with space for up to 180 banquet-style, as well as numerous mezzanine-level meeting rooms.
[Related: Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland Reopens and More MidAmerica Property News]
Minnesota
Boardwalk Kitchen & Bar, a unique dining and entertainment destination, will open its doors in spring 2025 feet from the iconic Canterbury Park racetrack in Shakopee, Minnesota, just over 30 minutes southwest of Minneapolis.
The highly anticipated concept will house two experiences under one roof: A 6,000-square-foot classic American restaurant and a 7,500-square-foot entertainment venue, informally called “The Stable,” with a stage, a 330-square-foot LED video wall and a mezzanine for private events.
Boardwalk Kitchen & Bar will also feature an 18,000-square-foot patio with trackside dining and a private dining room with an indoor-outdoor feel and glass doors opening to the patio.
[Related: Cincinnati Begins Construction of Reimagined Convention Center District and More MidAmerica News]
Wisconsin
The historic Hilton Milwaukee, which is connected to the newly extended Baird Center and stands as the city’s largest hotel, is undergoing a sweeping renovation that’s set to be the most-extensive renovation in Marcus Hotels & Resorts history.
Previously known as the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, the hotel has officially rebranded to Hilton Milwaukee to coincide with the coming transformation.
The project will encompass reimaginations of Hilton Milwaukee’s guest rooms, the hotel’s lobby and 34,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces. Renovations are expected to cost more than $40 million and be completed by summer 2025.
The historic Art Deco landmark has been a towering mainstay in Milwaukee since 1928, when it originally opened as the Schroeder Hotel. The property features 554 guest rooms in the historic hotel’s original footprint and an additional 175 rooms in the west tower, which will eventually be removed from available room inventory (timing pending).
Hilton Milwaukee’s 34,000-plus square feet of meeting space includes three ballrooms and 18 meeting rooms of various sizes.
