Corktown Inn reinvents itself as the Corktown Hotel, hopes to clean up its act

The old Corktown Inn is cleaning up its act. Though stingy with the details, an unnamed ownership group that purchased the inn in October 2014 is committed to a complete overhaul of the hotel, according to newly-hired director of sales Suzette Daye. In what's now re-branded as the Corktown Hotel, the 144 rooms could begin to see major renovations within months.

A local design firm is handling the room renovations, though Daye wouldn't say which one. Local artisans, including the Nordin brothers, will provide much of the décor for each room. Daye says that the Corktown will be a boutique hotel, meaning that each floor and even each room could be different from one another. Three concept rooms are currently available to rent.

In addition to re-designing the rooms, Daye says that a number of other improvements are planned for the site. New landscaping will better expose the hotel to the street. An old restaurant space will be revived. Workout facilities will be added. A courtyard will be spruced up and there's also mention of a green roof.

For all of the improvements and additional amenities planned for the hotel, perhaps what's most notable, at least presently, are the subtractions. Gone is the cigarette smoking. So, too, is the infamous vending machine containing lighters, condoms, and women's underwear. Room rentals in three-hour blocks have also been eliminated. Even the old security dummy has been retired.

Daye admits that the changes have led to a loss of some of the customers -- "We've lost a lot of the party people, I guess you could say," -- but that's to be expected as the inn switches to a boutique hotel. Plus, she's heard positive things from the hotel's neighbors since the new rules have been implemented.

It's a transition period for the hotel, after the "party people" have left but before all of the upgrades have been made. In the meantime, Daye's trying to drum up business, distributing promotional fliers to neighborhood bars. Drink too much at a Corktown establishment? Bring the flier to the hotel for a $50 overnight stay. While the rooms aren't "boutique" yet, they're clean and not out of the ordinary.

Source: Suzette Daye, director of sales at the Corktown Hotel
Writer: MJ Galbraith

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