The grand opening of a new, dual-branded Marriott hotel in Lincolnwood is planned for Aug. 28 at the former site of the “Purple Hyatt.”
Lakhani Hospitality is building a five-story, 152-room Residence Inn by Marriott and SpringHill Suites by Marriott on 1 ¼ acres at the corner of Lincoln and Touhy avenues in Lincolnwood at the popular District 1860. Each building will have 76 suites, with the Residence Inn catering to long-term guests with kitchenettes and living areas. The hotels share common amenities including an indoor pool, fitness center, conference rooms, and a lobby.
“There is a storied past to this site, and I’m excited to showcase what is going to be a really beautiful hotel,” said Karim Lakhani, Chief Development Officer for Lakhani Hospitality.
The Purple Hyatt was built in the 1960s and was once a destination for celebrities, including Perry Como, Barry Manilow, and Roberta Flack. Later, the hotel became notorious for Mob activity and drug parties, and was the site where a reputed mobster and associate of the late Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa was gunned down in the parking lot in 1983. The murder of Allen Dorfman remains unsolved, and the hotel was later demolished in 2013.
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“We’re excited to see the hotel coming online in the next couple of months and the positive impact it’s going to have on District 1860 and the three restaurants that are literally right across the courtyard,” said Lincolnwood Village Manager Anne Marie Gaura.
In February 2019, the village approved a North Lincoln Tax Increment Financing district to support District 1860, a $150 million to $175 million mixed-use development at the site. Developed by Chicago-based Tucker Development, District 1860 includes 299 luxury apartments and 85,000 square feet of commercial space, which now includes restaurants Mia Francesca, Fatpour Tap Works, and Fat Rosie’s Taco & Tequila Bar, with plans for additional businesses in the district.
“District 1860 feels really like a downtown with a ton of restaurants and retail within walking distance, and a great location from O’Hare Airport and downtown Chicago,” Lakhani said. “We’re excited to serve the community in Lincolnwood, the businesses, families, and all those who are going to come to experience all that Lincolnwood has to offer. We’re also excited to continue our great track record of hospitality on the North Shore.”
Lakhani Hospitality has been in the hotel business for more than 22 years, operating the Holiday Inn in Skokie, the Holiday Inn Express in Niles, Avid Hotel in Des Plaines, as well as the Holiday Inn by O’Hare and in Oak Brook.
“We think this market doesn’t have enough Marriott rooms, and that it would be a great opportunity to bring to the village of Lincolnwood,” Lakhani said. “We’ll provide guests with an upscale experience and these brands are a perfect fit for the village.”
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.