A new boutique hotel is opening in an historic building in Kansas City’s River Market neighborhood next year.
The developers behind River Market Hotel, 415 Delaware St., officially launched the project on Tuesday. The 1880 building is being converted into a 45-room hotel across four stories.
Guests arrive for a groundbreaking on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, for the River Market Hotel, a new 45-room boutique hotel, located in a renovated 1880s historic building. The hotel hopes to open in the spring of 2026. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
The hotel will blend modern aesthetics with classic Italian design while preserving the building’s architectural character, according to a news release. The design will reflect Kansas City’s local art, culture and charm while showcasing Italian mid-century modern design, the release says.
The KC Streetcar travels past the new River Market Hotel at 415 Delaware St. in Kansas City, where a groundbreaking ceremony took place on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. Renovations are currently underway to transform the historic 1880s building into a 45-room boutique hotel. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
The redevelopment project includes installing new structural foundations, windows, roofing, interior finishes and full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Amenities at the hotel will include a restaurant, a lounge bar, a coffee bar, a garden courtyard, an outdoor terrace and a fitness center.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the new River Market Hotel at 415 Delaware St. was held on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, attended by Craig Scranton of BNIM, from left, owners Gino and Petra Serra, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, Patrick Gideon of Silver Lake Bank, and owners Susan and Mike Heitmann. Others from Cerris Builders, BNIM, and Populous were also on hand for the event. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Firms working on the project include Populous, Cerris Builders, BNIM and Clockwork.
The project follows architecture firm Confluence moving out of the building to a nearby location, the Kansas City Business Journal reported last year.
A guest tours the second floor of the new River Market Hotel, 415 Delaware St., in Kansas City. The project, which held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, will transform a historic building into a 45-room boutique hotel, complete with a restaurant, lounge and coffee bar. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
The new River Market Hotel at 415 Delaware St. in Kansas City, held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. Renovations are currently underway to transform the historic 1880 building into a 45-room boutique hotel. Officials said it’s set to open in 2026. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Chris Higgins writes about development for the Kansas City Star. He graduated from the University of Iowa and joins the Star after working at newspapers in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin and Des Moines, Iowa.
