Hotel Group Never Did Reach Out To Jane Addams' Museum Before Rebranding In Her Name
By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 5, 2017 7:20PM
When owners and new management announced last week that the Hard Rock Hotel would be rebranded as St. Jane Chicago—a reference to Jane Addams—the move garnered a fair share of quizzical reactions and social-media side eyes. Why exactly was a boutique-y downtown hotel invoking the name of the city's most hallowed, indefatigable pioneer of social work? It all culminated in a potent op-ed in Chicago magazine, written by Anjulie Rao, called "Jane Addams Is Not Here to Sell Your Fancy Hotel Rooms" in which Rao, editor of Chicago Architect magazine, admonishes that Jane Addams—adored warrior against unregulated labor and unfair housing practices—"is not your brand, bro."
But what does Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, the local institution that actually stewards Addams' legacy, think? It turns out they weren't consulted ahead of the announcement, and a week later, Jennifer Scott, director of the museum, has yet to be contacted by either Becker Ventures, which owns the hotel property, or Aparium Hotel Group, its new management firm.
Scott told Chicagoist by email last week that Hull House "appreciates the awareness that invoking Jane Addams’ name and legacy can bring to her life-long accomplishments and to her tremendous contributions to social change," and added that the institution is "encouraged by the promise of philanthropy on the part of the hotel owners." (Becker will reportedly contribute portions of revenue to charity and use hotel space to host charitable events.)
Scott then also floated a suggestion in the event that the hotel group might want to "deepen their connection to Addams' legacy": "[P]erhaps they can create a new hotel model—one that champions equitable and inclusive labor practices, emphasizes public engagement and contributes regularly to causes that promote more humane living in Chicago.
While the new owners never reached out to us, we would be happy to inform them more deeply about Addams' legacy," Scott told Chicagoist.
But as of Tuesday, a week removed from the announcement, the hotel has yet to contact the museum, as far as the director is aware. (A public-relations representative working with Aparium declined to comment to Chicagoist; and a spokeswoman for Becker told the Tribune that the "concept for the St. Jane Chicago has been developed independently.")
The rebranded St. Jane Chicago—which is housed in the historic Carbide & Carbon building and will reportedly also reportedly include a new coffee shop, restaurant and microbrewery—is slated to open in the spring of next year. We'll follow should any developments occur along the way.