Harlow Block Downtown Is Sold

The Latest from Marquette, MI by Brian Cabell

ONE OF MARQUETTE'S iconic buildings, the Harlow Block at the corner of
Washington and Front Streets, has been sold. The buyer? The Base
Hospitality Group, which recently bought the Ramada Inn and is also
preparing to open Explore, an upscale boutique hotel in Marquette,
early next year. The group, headed by local partners Josh Paquette and
Charlie Holsworth, owns and operates several other hotels and motels
across the U.P.

"We just wanted to be officially recognized as part of Marquette's
past and Marquette's future," says Holsworth, in explaining the
purchase which closed last Friday. "We're thrilled to now be part of
this city's history."

The Harlow Block was constructed in 1887 by Amos Harlow, one of the
founders of Marquette. The three story building, made of red Lake
Superior sandstone, has managed to survive all of the city's fires
downtown.

The big question: Will Paquette and Holsworth now convert the Harlow
Block into another hotel? No. That's not even a consideration, says
Holsworth. "We plan to have it continue as a retail and office
building," he explains. "Over time, we may dress it up, remove the
awnings, and make some changes to the facade. But other than that, it
will remain what it's been."

The building has 18 tenants, including a few at sidewalk level. One of
them, Boomerang, recently vacated, but Holsworth says that occurred
under the previous ownership group.

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