Northern Hotel expecting new tenants this spring

FORT COLLINS — A furniture and accessories store and a women’s clothing boutique are set to open in Fort Collins’ Northern Hotel over the next two months, bringing the downtown hotel owners closer to filling all of the 14,000 square feet of retail space available.

Kathy Carson expects to open Eclectic Home in a 1,100-square-foot space on the Walnut Street side of the hotel by April 15. In addition to candles, pillows, rugs and artwork brought in from New York and Los Angeles, Carson said the store will specialize in European Old World style accessories and shabby-chic items.

“Shabby-chic is just renovating old items and turning them into something else,” she said. “It’s giving something a new life instead of throwing it away, like we do so often in our society.”

Shibumi Fine Apparel is set to open in May in a 3,200-square-foot space on the College Avenue side. Owner Jessica Davis could not be reached for comment, but James Day, broker with Wheeler Commercial, said Davis is a graduate of Colorado State University’s design and merchandising program. The store will feature high-end, New York-style clothing, he said.

Spoons, Soups and Salads signed a lease in December for a 2,225-square-foot space on Walnut Street and should open this month.

Starbucks, Puzzlering and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory already occupy space at the Northern Hotel. With the two new signed leases and a gift shop and a cellular phone dealer competing for a 906-square-foot space, Day said a kiosk in the lobby is the only remaining available space.

The historic hotel underwent an $11.5 million dollar restoration project in 2001 that was spearheaded by Funding Partners for Housing Solutions, a community-development financial institution dedicated to developing affordable housing.

The top floors provide nearly 50 apartments for low-income residents over age 55.

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