Halle & I were on the road this week and gosh did it feel good! Dare I even say… it felt a bit normal? We visited with friends & colleagues in Akron, Copley, Medina, Lorain, Sandusky & Bellevue. The majority of our time was spent in Lorain visiting and learning about all of the great things happening in the area with the Ariel at Broadway Hotel at the pinnacle.
Built in 1925, the historic Broadway Building has been a mainstay for downtown Lorain, located where the Black River meets Lake Erie and reopened as a hotel in 2022 as part of Historic Hotels of America. This 55-room hotel is conveniently located near everything that Lorain has to offer including fishing, boating, hiking, kayaking and more, and provides easy access for traveling to and from the The Lorain Palace Theatre, Lakeview Park, and the Vermilion River Reservation. Located between Cleveland and Sandusky, the hotel can serve as your home away from home while exploring the North Coast.
We had the pleasure of spending the evening with the property’s owner who gave us an all-inclusive tour of the property, the city, and the sites. She and her team have done an excellent job bringing this historic building back to life.
The lobby sparkles with chandeliers among dark wood pillars and wall accents. Charming accents of the building’s past such as the original US Mail chutes and hallway architecture lead to the elevators. The rooms are simple, modern & contemporary with navy & blues that embrace the water view of Lake Erie.
What really sets this property apart are the amenities and spaces. The 300-person event space is located on the 4th floor and features an historic 100-year-old stunning bar with views over Lake Erie and the Black River. The rooftop space offers 360-degree views and is ideal for a rooftop ceremony.
On the 1st floor adjacent to the lobby is Dodie’s Dockside, an Italian & Seafood restaurant and bar. If you enjoy a well curated menu, unique design, and a true dining experience; try Dodie’s! We started our dining experience with the meatballs and bruschetta which were a homerun. The bruschetta was not your traditional version but a savory delight with whipped goat cheese, bacon jam, caramelized onion, and apples. YUM! We had quite the array of entrees from lobster rolls to burgers to pizza – I don’t think you can go wrong. I appreciated the cozy feel with dim lights, sparking twigs and custom lighting. It is contemporary yet pays homage to the original architecture while giving way to the nautical spirit of the coast.
Continuing on the first floor off of the lobby are three additional outlets. Lolipops is a Lorain-centric gift shop featuring unique finds and Lorain-related clothing & home goods. This shop was just reopening this month and I know everyone is excited! Cakes by the Lake is a lovely bakery owned by a mother and her sons. We left with (too many) treats but enjoyed each one of them. This is the perfect place for a decadent brownie, a quick cookie to enjoy with your afternoon tea or an elaborate themed cake for your next event. They also feature seasonal treats such as their Irish Potato Candy (No, there are no potatoes in the candy. Don’t worry, we asked!) This is a sweet confection that was explained to us as a ball of cream cheese icing with coconut covered in cinnamon… I know what you are making this weekend! Broadway Boutique and Treats is the home of Faroh’s Finest Chocolates and features many items made by students of the Spectrum Resource Center & School.
The lower level, where the event space once was, is now a lively and exciting sports bar, Game On Lorain. Game On is a local chain featuring good times, drinks, and food paired with your favorite sports matchups! This location features 5 pool tables among other games like pinball.
I am excited to see what is next for Lorain and look forward to returning in peak season to rent a jet ski, have dinner at the lighthouse, walk the Mile-Long Pier, or enjoy a concert as part of the Rockin’ on the River concert series.
Until next time,
Lauren
From beginning to end, service is top notch. I pulled up to the busy valet and was warmly greeted and promptly guided to the elevators to sweep me away to the lobby. Immediately off the elevators is a stunning floral arrangement composed of several tall clear vases with simplistic blooms.
