CHICAGO—Aparium Hotel Group is collaborating with Weber Holdings to provide services related to the planning, programming, positioning and management of the soon-to-open The Charmant Hotel in La Crosse, WI, which will be located in the historic former Joseph B. Funke Candy Co. factory.
In cooperation with Simeone Deary Design Group and The Kubala Washatko Architects, the building will retain much of the original character and charm of the former candy factory, according to the company. Following a more than $23-million renovation and restoration, this 71-room, five-story independent property is scheduled to open at the end of 2014.
The Charmant Hotel will include a restaurant with outdoor seating, a lounge and a rooftop bar, as well as functional event space for meetings and corporate gatherings. Food will be sourced from local farmers and purveyors, and the restaurant will serve regional new American cuisine based on classic French technique.
The hotel’s name, Charmant, means charming in French and gives a nod to Aparium’s commitment to creating a unique offering for the community, a new and charming gathering space created out of the roots of the local community, and history of the former candy factory, according to the company. Charmant also refers to the name of the premium line of chocolates once sold at Funke Candy Company.