Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, co-founder of the colorful purse and luggage brand Vera Bradley, has opened a new boutique hotel in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The unique hotel, fittingly named ‘The Bradley’, will include a locally-sourced restaurant, a rooftop bar, 124 guest rooms, and nine signature suites -- seven of which Barbara designed herself.
The hotel, located at 204 W Main St., in Fort Wayne is a collaboration with Portland, Oregon-based Provenance Hotels and has been accepting reservations since before its opening on July 15th.
We spoke with Barbara ahead of the hotel's opening to get an exclusive look inside this one-of-a-kind addition to Fort Wayne.
Edible Indy: How did the concept for The Bradley come together?
Barbara Bradley Baekgaard: I moved to Fort Wayne over 40 years ago. It’s a great city – beautiful homes, great cost of living, wonderful restaurants. It really has it all. The Bradley serves as a love letter to my adopted city and a place that is and always will be close to my heart. I had the idea to open a hotel in the city when I first moved here with my family but focused my attention on building Vera Bradley, now I have proper time to dedicate to my vision and capitalize on all the revitalization and great things happening in downtown Fort Wayne. Developing this boutique hotel to be representative of the community and all that we have here is the perfect way to attract new visitors to such a historic city.
EI: Did you always want to own a hotel?
BBB: I love to travel. I would often accompany my husband on his work trips to Europe, and we would always seek out hotels that had a sense of place. I want The Bradley to have that [connection] to the Fort Wayne community from the moment our guests walk through the door and to feel like a home-away-from-home.
I designed a small inn near Seaside, Florida, but The Bradley is my first venture of this size and style. I always knew I wanted to open a hotel in Fort Wayne because of my love for the city and the sense of community and connection that the city fosters.
EI: In one sentence, describe what The Bradley means to you.
BBB: The Bradley is a personal labor of love for me, channeling our vision to build a hotel that feels like a home, both for the community and visitors to Fort Wayne.
EI: How would you describe The Bradley’s style?
BBB: As guests enter The Bradley, they’ll experience a sense of comfort and warmth, with trendsetting designs throughout with a focus on locally sourced artwork on display. It has a sort of soft sophistication that draws you in, upscale yet cozy. There are pops of color and pattern sprinkled in – from the headboards in the guest rooms, to the wallpaper in the bathrooms – all the patterns flow together seamlessly for a chic, modern feel.
EI: What are some of your favorite aspects of The Bradley?
BBB: I’m excited for guests to visit Birdie’s, our rooftop bar with the perfect view of downtown Fort Wayne. It holds a special place in my heart – the name comes from my personal nickname, given to me by my grandson when he was young. I love the ambiance and décor of the space, with its soft colors, rattan-style furniture and Italian tiled floors, it will be a dining experience unlike any other. I’m also eager for guests to stay in the signature suites that I designed. There will be nine suites in total, and I designed seven, with Provenance CEO, Katy Durant, designing the other two. All the suites are named after an Indiana city, paying homage to the state that I love!
EI: Is the Vera Bradley brand associated with the new hotel or did you look to separate the two?
BBB: There are hints of Vera Bradley woven into the hotel, like the retail display case in the lobby, throw pillows in the rooms and custom wallpaper in one of the downstairs powder rooms, but overall, I wanted The Bradley to evoke more of my personal style, especially seen in my personally designed suites, with bold, patterned drapery and stunning bathrooms.
EI: What was the design inspiration for The Bradley?
BBB: The Bradley was inspired by the city of Fort Wayne as I wanted it to be a true reflection of the city’s heritage. It also takes inspiration from my own personal style and feels a little bit like my home. I wanted guests to feel at home with a mix of patterns and unique details along with sophistication.
EI: What inspired the hotel’s main restaurant, Arbor?
BBB: We wanted to provide guests with an approachable, all-day dining experience, perfect for a business lunch, special events or a date night. The menu delivers modern American fare, but with an elevated twist, using locally sourced ingredients.
EI: What is the cuisine, and does it have any Indiana ties?
BBB: Arbor serves breakfast options, like buttermilk biscuits and cinnamon French toast, and coffee selections. For lunch, guests will find comfort dishes, ranging from chicken biscuits to samplings for the entire table, like the chef’s seasonal charcuterie board. For dinner, visitors can choose anything from a classic chicken pot pie to a chargrilled prime ribeye. The Indiana connection comes into play through the local ingredients that will be used.
Note from Edible Indy: Barbara also mentioned that the coffee will be from local purveyors Utopian Coffee.
EI: Is there a dish you are most excited about?
BBB: I’m excited to try everything, really, and see what our new culinary team whips up! I will say some of the snacks offered at Birdie’s sound very interesting, like the Cedar Creek pork ribs and mac n’ cini, a crispy mac & cheese dish with a spicy tomato crema.
EI: What can you tell us about the rooftop bar, Birdie’s?
BBB: Birdie’s was created to be a social hotspot, complete with beautiful décor, the perfect view of downtown Fort Wayne and a fireplace on the outdoor terrace, ideal for gathering with friends over craft cocktails. Casual bites will be served, including cheeseburger sliders and fried chicken sandwiches. Birdie’s is also open for brunch on weekends, with selections like hearty breakfast sandwiches, sourdough French toast and plenty of mimosas.
EI: What inspired the names ‘The Bradley’, ‘Birdie’s’, and ‘Arbor’?
BBB: My first choice for the name of the hotel was actually Fox on Main, giving a nod to my mother’s maiden name and the hotel’s street address. Ultimately, The Bradley just clicked and seemed to work perfectly for the overall brand of the hotel, as Bradley is my maiden name.
Birdie is my nickname, lovingly given to me by my grandchild.
Arbor is a nod to Fort Wayne’s natural beauty and plays into one of its many nicknames, the City of Trees.
EI: The hotel features pieces from local artists throughout the hotel and a rotating art gallery, in partnership with Purdue University Fort Wayne Department of Art and Design. Where did the idea to incorporate local art come from?
BBB: The idea of local art came from our inspiration to make The Bradley reflect the city of Fort Wayne. While we have other concepts that reflect the city throughout the hotel, we found commissioning local artists like Theoplis Smith III (Phresh Laundry) and Julie Wall of HEDGE Studios nicely highlights the city’s vibrant cultural side. Provenance is known for celebrating the arts and its creators, so our collective goal with The Bradley was to illuminate the bright talent of Fort Wayne.
EI: What vision do you have for the future of Downtown Fort Wayne, and how do you want The Bradley to be a part of that?
BBB: Since I first moved to the city over 40 years ago, I have watched the city transform and take on an exciting and artistic edge. As the city continues to focus on development, I envision the downtown area continuing to find its own personality that will tell the story of community members with additions like The Bradley.
Edible Indy + Hotel Tango Distillery are teaming up to give YOU, our loyal supporters, readers and followers a chance...
Copyright ©2024 Edible Indy. All rights reserved |Edible Indy Foundation
