The Bradley Hotel: A Boutique Experience in Downtown Fort Wayne
Story by Laura Noggle
Bold colors, evocative patterns, and whimsical details. As soon as you step into the lobby your eyes are treated to a smorgasbord of bright textures and fixtures, a true candy shop for the senses. I even detected a pleasing aroma*, perfectly permeating the main floor and adding to the overall ambiance. This, is The Bradley.
Designed to be unique and full of local art by Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, the co-founder of Vera Bradley, and hotel developer Provenance, there is no shortage of charm or atmosphere in the city’s first boutique hotel. Although we didn’t make the grand opening, we were given a private tour that left us wanting more.
Specifically, of the two restaurants inside The Bradley, which were closed when we were there. Living downtown one gets very well acquainted with all the local spots, and a fresh face is always welcome to jazz up date night. By now it’s no surprise to those in the restaurant industry, even still, I was not expecting to learn the sole reason Arbor, the main restaurant, has not opened yet is because of a lack of staffing. Even Birdie’s, the rooftop bar has had to pare down hours for the time being.
Hyped in Architectural Digest and Veranda magazine, and touted as the lovechild of “Midwestern charm and modern design sensibilities,” it is clear in every detail that this is Baekgaard’s love letter to Fort Wayne. Warm, cozy, and fun with an upscale-at-home sensibility, it was also intended to make guests feel like family. In fact, it was intended as an extended guest house for Barb’s friends and relatives.
By highlighting local artists as well as vendors (local coffee and local beer are on the menu), The Bradley is a classy showcase of all that Fort Wayne has to offer, and is all about.
BACKGROUND
Did you know that Vera Bradley is named after Baekgaard’s mother? And her first full-service hotel is an homage to her salesman father, who was frequently on the road. Not only did Baekgaard pick up on her father’s business gifts, she also fell in love with hotels.
Traveling the world for work, it became Baekgaard’s dream to design her own hotel some day with polished, curated aesthetics. After retiring in 2017, it was time to pursue her idea for The Bradley. Construction of the $30 million hotel began in May 2019, and the rest is history.
“I’ve lived in Fort Wayne now for over 40 years and we were just missing that element of the city and I didn’t think there was anything that really represented who we were.”
— Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, Vera Bradley Co-Founder
ART
The undeniably eclectic air is complemented by standout local talent. Theoplis Smith III, aka Phresh Laundry, is featured throughout the hotel most notably in the lobby and private dining room, with half dipped paintings that are especially eye catching. Julie Wall of the HEDGE studios created custom letterpress prints of Fort Wayne botanicals that flank the beds in each guest room.
A curated, on-site gallery hosted in partnership with the Purdue University Fort Wayne Department of Art and Design showcases themed, semi-annual exhibitions from students, alumni, and faculty. The inaugural installation focuses on photography, with the individual works and artists listed online. Like what you see? All pieces are also available for purchase.
STYLE
You might expect an abundance of Vera Bradley products inside, but you’d be hard pressed to find much aside from an occasional throw pillow and one merchandise cabinet. What is for sale is quite memorable and special too. The women’s restroom has custom-designed wallpaper with peonies (state flower), cardinals (state bird), and the Fort Wayne skyline. This one-of-a-kind pattern can be found on items exclusively for sale in the hotel gift shop.
Not to be outdone, the men’s restroom wallpaper features bespoke canes, a tribute to Baekgaard’s late husband who always collected canes on trips.
Still, Baekgaard’s hallmark touch is evident not only through the cheerful patterned wallpaper, but also through the vibrant artwork, fresh flowers, and friendly staff.
FOOD
Let’s start with Birdie’s where you can get small plates, classic cocktails and impeccable downtown views. Walking into this 5th floor rooftop restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating, I was immediately reminded of the 1996 movie, The Birdcage. It is impossible not to feel the spicy flavors of Ocean Drive in this magical space.
Growing up in Miami Beach, Barbara was surrounded by Art Deco palaces and the Floridian inspiration comes through in spades. The name also hits close to home as Baekgaard’s grandchildren call her Birdie … because of her fondness for birds.
Rattan birdcages line the entry, tropical wallpaper pops, and big garage doors to the outdoor patio allow the restaurant to transport you to another realm, or at the very least, spark a lighthearted joie de vivre. The open air portion has heaters and a fire pit for colder temperatures. Currently, Birdie’s is open Tuesday through Saturday, 5-10 pm, but be sure to make a reservation as the bar is the only place that accepts walk-ins.
Arbor, the all-day restaurant (eventually) is located on the ground-level. The name is rooted in the city’s treelined trails and parks, with locally-sourced ingredients on the menu—think comfort food with an elevated twist. A private dining room is available as well as a seasonal patio. Although it’s not currently open for lunch or dinner, you can still get Utopian Coffee and breakfast from 6:30 to 11 am.
REST
There are 124 rooms and nine suites in this luxurious, art-centric hotel and it is part of the larger Provenance family with swanky, glamorous hotels across the country. Each of the suites are named after an Indiana city and decorated with different themes.
Amenities listed on the website include “Accredited Cleaning”, “Sleep Experience”, “Spiritual Menu”, “Virtual Concierge”, “Well + Fit”, and did we mention The Bradley is pet friendly!?
"I wanted something that when people were in here, they felt they knew where they were in Fort Wayne and then when they leave, they have a memory of Fort Wayne. That was one of my goals.”
— Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, Vera Bradley Co-Founder
To be honest, I got serious Wes Anderson meets Willy Wonka vibes from The Bradley and I am absolutely here for it. It’s revitalizing to know that whimsey, art, and creativity are alive and well in downtown Fort Wayne.
*In case you’re still curious, as I was about the evenly distributed perfume … our guide didn’t know the scent or the source but apparently I’m not the only one who has asked about it. A mystery for future investigation.
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Photography by Tony Frantz
