By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT — A large sign for the Delamar Westport hotel was approved by the Architectural Review Board this week, a harbinger of the hotel’s planned opening in June. 

The free-standing sign at 1595 Post Road East also reveals the name of the hotel’s new restaurant, “The Dandelion,” with an image of the much-maligned flower. The brushed aluminum sign with a reddish-brown patina, called attractive by board Chair Ward French, was approved unanimously by the ARB at its Tuesday meeting.

Another unusual design feature of the new hotel will be a collaboration with fashion and interior designer Christian Siriano, who is designing the lobby of the hotel and two suites.

Siriano, known as the host for the “Project Runway” television show and for dressing many celebrities, opened his own Westport design studio, The Collective West, not far from the hotel site in 2022. He closed the Westport studio in March and is moving it to New York City. 

Despite the move, Siriano is completing his work for the Delamar Westport, according to Erin Spiegel, director of public relations and marketing for Delamar.

Management for the Delamar hotels is affiliated with the Longshore Hospitality Group, which is remodeling the town-owned Inn at Longshore. The group has a 30-year lease with the town to renovate and manage the inn.

Project spanning several years

The plan for the Delamar Westport hotel, built on the site of the former Westport Inn, was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission in February 2023. 

Conceived initially as “a condotel,” featuring both hotel rooms and condominium units, the plan was changed to eliminate the condominiums and increase the number of hotel rooms to 86. That is still fewer than the 117 rooms at the Westport Inn. The 3.8-acre property was purchased by Delamar Westport LLC for $8 million in October 2022, according to online property records.

The Westport Inn, a local landmark since the 1960s, closed in 2021. The closure came as a surprise to many in Westport since the inn’s website had remained online and a receptionist was on duty at the front desk during the summer of 2021.

The Delamar Hotel Collection includes four other hotels in Connecticut, including the nearby Delamar Southport.

Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman and has taught journalism at New York and Southern Connecticut State universities.