We only get one chance at a first impression, and we want to truly blow you away when you walk in the door.”

Deanna Payne from IDM Hospitality

If you came here to look for the answer to the question “when?” you are not asking the right question for this particular article. During a tour of The Confluence, 200 2nd St. W., it was abundantly clear that the correct answer to that question is, “When they are confident that they will blow you away when you walk in the door.” 

The Confluence space is currently beautiful and there are aspects of this project that blew this reporter away. The views of the Mississippi River are truly stunning, even for a hometown boy that has seen the river thousands of times. The repurposed materials throughout the building are so well thought-out and perfectly placed, making the rooms feel elegant and slyly industrial at the same time. The open layouts of the rooms and suites feel cozy yet spacious. The use of the repurposed wood is inviting and warm, and the use of the diamond plating and other metals is so subtle that once you notice it, you’ll mutter under your breath, “That’s so cool.” 

But it is not quite ready for the general public, and after the tour given by Deanna Payne from IDM Hospitality, it is easy to understand why. 

“We only get one chance at a first impression, and we want to truly blow you away when you walk in the door,” said Payne. 

Payne is a key piece to The Confluence, and it is easy to see why. She lit up like a proud parent with every detail she described. She became as excited as a kid on Christmas morning when she pointed out each way they repurposed a material from the historic Hudson Manufacturing plant. It was enthralling hearing the passion she has as she talked about the project and her staff that is putting the final touches on a long process. 

They are so close to that point it fits the cliche “they can taste it,”. When you enter the building, you are in between the hotel lobby to the left and Missi’s Sip and Savor on the right. No matter which way you go, the immediate feeling you have when you enter is “welcome.” 

The hotel guest service desk is on the left and in front of that is a spacious seating area that offers plenty of space for several guests to take a load off before checking in or smaller parties to cozy up for quiet conversation. The main staircase is made mostly of repurposed materials. Most notably, the wood steps. 

Missi’s Sip and Savor, the bar and restaurant area, looks amazing and is very welcoming with seating for around 130 guests inside. There is a back area that can be curtained off for private parties and of course, there is easy access to their outdoor area called BKYD. 

BKYD has a ton of space on a tiered deck set up with a spectacular view of the Mississippi River. There is a central grassy space that will be set up with backyard games, and the garage door on the lowest level of the space will eventually be the BKYD Bar for drink service for the outside guests. 

There are things that may sound weird to us because this is not a new build, it is not a normal restoration, it is a historic building and any work done has a very specific set of requirements. That means some things simply cannot be painted or removed. There are main support pillars that still have measurements and other things written on them from the original factory. There are hooks in ceilings that cannot be removed. All of these little quirks, when you know about them, are super cool and unique. 

It is understandable that Hastings residents are anxious to get inside to see the shiny new setup in a space that has so desperately needed to be utilized for decades. It is also understandable that the extra time that has been needed to get it just right has become frustrating for some. When you see the final space, it will be worth it because you will be blown away at how perfectly they did The Confluence.