A New Day for the Landmark Inn

WELL, THE RUMORS that have been leaking out over the past few weeks are true. The Landmark Inn is being sold.

The principals in the deal haven't felt comfortable in confirming the rumors until now because of the uncertainties and complications in any major transaction, and the final papers are still not signed. But it now appears the sale, which has been in the works for the last year, will be completed within the next several weeks.

The new owners, Graves Hospitality out of Minneapolis, come in with a helluva reputation for buying and then enhancing hotels. One of their former flagship properties, the Graves 601 Hotel Minneapolis, was named one of the best 500 hotels in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine.

Food and beverage is another specialty for Graves. Their Bradstreet Craftshouse Restaurant in Minneapolis was named the sixth best bar in America by Food and Wine magazine.

So, yeah, these are bigtime players with bigtime ambitions.

An interesting side note: Jim Graves, the cofounder of Graves Hospitality and the founder of the AmericInn franchise, ventured into politics in 2012.
He was the Democratic candidate opposing Tea Party goddess Michele Bachmann in one of Minnesota's most conservative districts. In spite of being outspent 12 to 1 by the incumbent Bachmann, Graves nearly pulled off a huge upset.

Maybe that'll win him some points with Marquette's progressives.

Nevertheless, anytime you have a sale like this--transitioning from a small group of local owners to a bigger, out-of-state corporate owner, you have concerns.

Will the new owners just be intent on running a slick, money-making operation with no concern for the special place that the Landmark occupies in Marquette and the Upper Peninsula? Will the new owners be as generous with their time, money and energy as general manager and owner Christine Pesola was with hers in supporting community events and organizations?

There's good reason to believe Graves Hospitality understands all this. Matt Mering, who's the vice president of food and beverage and development for Graves, is from Marquette. His mother and father live here. They know and love the Landmark Inn and have been customers for years. They understand and appreciate the Landmark as only locals can.

Will there be some changes? Absolutely. Graves Hospitality has some money and ideas to improve the Landmark. Those will be laid out in the months ahead.

As for Christine Pesola and her ex-husband Bruce Pesola, they remain as investors in the the hotel. They're not going anywhere.

For Christine, this has been a 17 year love affair with the hotel, the employees and the thousands of guests who've stayed at the Landmark Inn and enjoyed the food, drink and company there. Back in 1997, she was a self-described hippie who was suddenly thrust into the role of general manager with virtually no management experience. She learned on the job.

The hotel endured serious financial troubles in the early days but survived to become, arguably, the centerpiece of a revived and prosperous downtown Marquette.

It's a hotel that's felt equally comfortable opening up its elegant lobby to host hockey events and symphony events. Its New Years Eve parties, open to all with free admission, are legendary.

The Pesolas, along with Christine's late parents Joe and Marvelle, and minority owners Bob Cowell and Al Hunter, all made it possible when the old hotel, inhabited by pigeons, looked like it might have a date with a wrecking ball. Possibly against their better judgment, the investors spent their money and energy on a dream that, amazingly, became a reality.

Now it's a new day. Let's see what Graves Hospitality does with that jewel on top of the hill on Front Street.


(Full disclosure: I'm a very good friend of Christine Pesola.)

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