Retro Suites Hotel, Chatham, ON

I spent the last night in Chatham (three hours from Toronto) at the Retro Suites Hotel ... I've stayed here a couple times in the past and liked it.

The Retro Suites Hotel combines historic elements of the King William Block with modern amenities, providing an unparalleled experience for guests to the region.

The buildings that encompass the Retro Suites Hotel have undergone a series of renovations, with an emphasis placed on preserving their original character and architecture.The Block has some of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in the city. T.J. Rutley designed the George Stephens hardware store in the 1888. The store featured a glass façade — the largest windowpane in Chatham at the time. The Chatham Tri-Weekly noted in its newspaper that “…Mr. Stephens is to be congratulated upon the enterprise and success.”

Later, the building housed Zink Hardware. The entrance faced the market square, where Chatham-area residents purchased their fruit, vegetables and meat products from local vendors. Today, the Stephens’ building has been painstakingly restored and now features the hotel’s hospitality suites.

The staircase, in the hotel’s lobby, dates back to 1895, when it was a part of the Merrill Hotel. The terrazzo floors and tin ceilings, along with the contemporary art and furnishings, give the Retro Suites Hotel its unique appeal. 

The suites all have themes.  This time I was in the Urban Studio.  It was a  huge room!

The bathroom floor was heated

The tub was long and deep

There is lots to see in the hotel.

The lobby

The second floor landing

The main floor

There were lots of complimentary amenities including parking, WIFI (it was fairly quick but kicked out sometimes), microwave oven, dishes, mini fridge, breakfast and bottled water.

It's a fun alternative to one of the chain hotels.