By Clint Wolf - October 23rd 2024
BELOIT
Where did Geronimo Hospitality Group get its name? What are the current projects for the Beloit-based group? When will the Henry Dorrbaker’s Pub Play venue open?
These and other questions were answered by Jesse Seykora, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Geronimo Hospitality Group, during a Society for Learning Unlimited presentation Tuesday at First Congregational Church.
Geronimo Hospitality Group oversees a collection of hotels, restaurant and entertainment venues throughout the Stateline Area and across the country. In Beloit, Geronimo oversees the Ironworks Hotel, the Eclipse Center, the Beloit Club, truk’t Street Tacos, Lucy’s #7 Burger Bar, the Velvet Buffalo and more. But it is a fast growing division of the business founded by Diane Hendricks.
Seykora said seven years ago, Geronimo had only seven locations. Today, there are 33 brands under the Geronimo Hospitality umbrella, including the legendary Red Circle Inn in Nashotah, Wisconsin, which is the oldest hotel in Wisconsin, the Baraboo Supper Club in Boise, Idaho, the Bottleworks Hotel in Indianapolis and many more.
And where did the Geronimo name come from? Not the Apache chief. It actually comes from Diane Hendricks’ dog. Although her beloved pet has since passed on, the Geronimo company thrives and grows.
The latest addition to the Geronimo brand will be the Henry Dorrbaker’s Pub and Play, which is tentatively scheduled to open in the Ironworks Campus along Third Street in downtown Beloit on Nov. 19, Seykora said.
The venue, named after the first owner of a bowling alley in Beloit, will feature duck pin bowling, mini putt golf, video games, food and other attractions.
“It will be a community gathering place for kids and adults,” he said.
He added, while children will be welcome, after 8 p.m. it will be for adults who are 21 and older.
“We want to get everyone we can into the building and having fun,” Seykora said.
He said there is no place like Dorrbaker’s in the region, and people would have to go 50 miles or more to find a place like it.
Several of Geronimo’s properties are located in downtown Beloit. Some audience members noted that businesses often move to where the traffic is, such as near interstate highways, and they asked if Geronimo had such plans.
“There was talk of building by the highway, but we want to build a vibrant downtown,” he said.
Audience members also asked about providing more parking downtown.
Seykora said there has been talk of building a parking structure at the vacant lot along Pleasant Street, across from the Ironworks Hotel.
When asked what he thinks of the Ho-Chunk Casino development planned for Beloit, Seykora said there are a few ways to look at that.
“It’s a positive in that it will drive more awareness to Beloit,” he said. “The hotel and convention center, which the Hard Rock (in Rockford) doesn’t have, will bring people to the community.”
Seykora also touched on some Hendricks Commercial Properties development in downtown Beloit. Demolition work continues at the building at 800 — 100 E. Grand Ave., formerly the Kerry Building. Plans are to build a mixed-use property on the site once the demolition is complete.
He added the Wagner and Wright apartment buildings at the corner of Grand Avenue and Fourth Street, offers a total of 137 units between the two buildings. Monthly rent ranges from about $1,600 to $2,000.