A new boutique hotel being planned in the former St. Joseph Public Library building at 500 Main Street downtown is almost finished and ready to open this summer.

In 2024, Shannon Kutchek and John Kenna purchased the building first constructed with funds from Andrew Carnegie in 1904. Kutchek tells us they at first weren’t planning to turn it into a hotel, but as she talked with people about the historic structure, she started to think of ways more people could experience it.

“So many people told us they’ve never been in this building,” Kutchek said. “So I think that’s the most important to us is that people look at it and go, ‘That is really cool. That’s a really cool historic building’”

Work to renovate the building to make way for the new hotel has been going on for well over a year with some structural changes made — like removing a partial wall, restoring an arch, and replacing outdated office-style windows — but overall, Kutchek says they’ve tried to keep original features like the woodwork, but a lot of modernization to the structure has been necessary.

“We’ve redone everything, everything. There’s nothing except the woodwork in here that is old. There’s not one piece of plumbing, electrical, mechanicals. So it’s entirely new, but with an old front to it.”

When “The Library, a Historic Hotel” opens to the public, Kutchek is hoping it will be a community attraction where people will occasionally gather for events. She adds the new six-room boutique hotel will offer a unique experience unlike any other hotel.

“It’s more like an experience stay. I don’t really consider it like a normal hotel, in that you come out of here and you go, ‘That was cool, that was different, that was something that you can’t get somewhere else.’”

Each guest room is named after its original function — like “Reading Room,” “Stacks,” or “Librarian’s Room” — and the place is decorated with antiques of all kinds, especially books. Kutchek says after doing many building remodels in Chicago, this is the couple’s first hotel, and it’s been a lot of work. But it’s been well worth it.

“I just want it to be something that the people of St. Joe are proud of, that they look at the building and they go, they did a good job. Those were the right people to buy that building.”

The hotel will also include a 650-square-foot speakeasy style lounge on the bottom floor that will be open to the public within limited hours and a rooftop deck.

Kutchek says completing this project has been like opening two new businesses, adding the city of St. Joseph has been supportive throughout.

The Library, a Historic Hotel could begin booking visitors in June.