NexGen Hotels, a hotel development and management company based in Itasca, IL, has acquired Hotel Versey in Chicago. The 137-room hotel will be managed by St. Louis-based Genuine Hospitality Group.
The boutique hotel is housed within the 1920s Diversey Arms building, a Northside Chicago landmark, that first served as a home to jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke. Later it was known as the “Rock and Roll Days Inn” due to its popularity with many rock stars of the ’90s such as Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Wilco and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The hotel’s location allows guests to walk to many attractions including Wrigley Field, Lake Michigan, the Lincoln Park Zoo, DePaul University and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
“The Hotel Versey has been on our radar for a long time as it is steeped in rich hospitality tradition that dates back to the 1920s,” said Chris Patel, president, NexGen Hotels. “We hope to continue on with this tradition with this completely one-of-a-kind hotel.”
Each guestroom includes complimentary WiFi, 50-in. HDTVs with premium programming and SoniCast, allowing guests to stream TV shows, movies and music directly to their room. Nespresso coffee machines and signature luxury linens round out the standard room offerings, while executive rooms accommodate business and long-term travelers with the addition of a microwave and refrigerator. The Chicago decor theme also carries through on the walls behind each bed, which highlight Chicago sites like Wrigley Field, the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier and the skyline.
The hotel’s “Art Arrival” corridor greets guests with custom-made artworks—from traditional murals to contemporary street art. This gallery-like entryway leads guests into the lobby with an open layout that has contemporary, colorful seating. The reception area backs to a sprawling display of shelving filled with a curated collection of Chicago artifacts and items representing the connection between old and new.
