One-of-a-Kind Hospitality

Walking along Michigan Avenue in Detroit’s historic Corktown neighborhood, one spots industrial-chic cocktail lounges and eateries, turn-of-the-century architecture, and the recently resurrected Michigan Central Station. “I didn’t think I would see it in my lifetime,” Doug Schwartz, a native Detroiter and entrepreneur, says.

Schwartz owns a local landmark of his own. He occupies The Blanco Building, located across from Grand Central. Built in 1901, the building last operated as Blanco Canvas Works, manufacturing sail covers and awnings for clients including Detroit’s Big Three and sports teams. Today, The Blanco Building houses Schwartz’s businesses: DetroitWick, Trip Wipes™, and his new hospitality experience, The1RoomHotel™.

Guests enjoy early 20th century interiors, alongside timeless and tasteful bespoke design. “The1RoomHotel is a high-level stay where amenities are hand-curated. Everything is flawless,” Schwartz says.

When Schwartz purchased The Blanco Building in 2020, he acquired a manufacturing facility and two unoccupied apartments, which had been abandoned for well over 50 years. Given Schwartz’s Detroit connection, he says his business partners and friends frequently asked him for recommendations on where to eat and stay. “Why not with me?” Schwartz remembers thinking. That’s when the idea to renovate the apartments into one grand penthouse bloomed.

Schwartz served as the general contractor while his wife, Hilary, worked as the project’s interior eye. The hotel, with 3,000 square feet of space and a 1,000-square-foot terrace, boasts an impressive lineup of amenities. Its wellness room, for example, includes an infrared sauna, Peloton bike, and Bala yoga equipment so guests can easily pack in “me time” during their stay. The 15-foot-tall master bathroom shower wall, scaled in zellige tile, draws the eye to a section of the building’s original skylight, which spans three spaces. “The skylight is my favorite feature. You can’t replicate that kind of light, even if you tried,” Schwartz says.

Preserving the originality of the space was vital to the couple’s vision. The floors were sanded and matte clear-coated, letting the original tongue-and-groove pine hardwood shine, and 80 percent of the original molding is intact. The archways, chair rail moldings, and doors are original, as are the ceiling medallions, pocket doors, and clawfoot tubs, which have been restored. Surrounded by a rich four-color palette from Farrow & Ball, guests connect with history and enjoy the present. Schwartz says it’s a place to relish, retreat, and restore.

Photographs of the interior prior to the renovation greet guests as they ascend the private staircase leading from the first floor to the second. The photos show peeling walls, dark and damaged floors, and a cacophony of mismatched paint colors. In the same space, there’s a Tyrrell Winston basketball wall sculpture. “The1RoomHotel is a place to explore, not just a place to stay,” Schwartz notes.

The penthouse hosts travelers, private parties, corporate events, and brand activations. Schwartz works as the hotel’s host, concierge, and owner all in one. T1RH (the hotel’s acronym) blends an Airbnb stay with a 5-star, luxury boutique hotel experience. However, “what sets The1RoomHotel apart from other Detroit hotels is the personality of the space,” Schwartz says.
The entrepreneurial couple collaborated with Soho Home to outfit the space with luxe furnishings and fixtures, and the kitchen was custom-built by Architectural Kitchens in Troy. Fresh floral arrangements arrive weekly from Mesh Detroit and irresistible chocolates are found in the “micro library,” thanks to local chocolatier, Bon Bon Bon. Making one’s stay even more memorable; a 1972 Bronco house car is available by appointment for guests wishing to take a cruise. More than a unique experience, The1RoomHotel represents the best Detroit has to offer.

MORE INFORMATION: the1roomhotel.com