Back in the early 1990s, downtown Poughkeepsie was a bit foreboding. But friends and partners Joe Bonura and Cosimo DiBrizzi saw potential in the former Radisson Hotel in the city”™s downtown. They bought and refurbished the 200-plus room hotel, renaming it the Poughkeepsie Grand.
The new name fit its transformation. Not only did the endeavor pay off, helping revitalize the downtown area, but in the process, it has become “the” meeting place for dozens of businesses and chambers of commerce from across the region.
Joe Bonura, who lost his friend and colleague three years ago, is going it alone on a new renovation he estimates will cost upward of $3 million, making the Grand even grander. Working with Bonura on the financing are TD Banknorth, KeyBank and Riverside Bank. Bonura”™s a meticulous whirlwind, saying the makeover will be ready by mid-March. With a cell phone that never stops ringing, Bonura”™s constantly on the go as he walked and talked Hudson Valley Business through the construction site in the lobby and gave a preview of one room under renovation.
“Beautiful honey-colored onyx will be used throughout the lobby, and our centerpiece will be a handmade chandelier,” said Bonura, who has an eye for beauty and grace. “Don”™t mind the dust, just watch your step,” said the accountant turned hotelier, as he made his way through the renovation, pointing out where the new bar and public restaurant area will be. From the front desk, floor to ceiling and bar to bathrooms, the Poughkeepsie Grand will be even grander than it was when it was brought back to life more than two decades ago.
Just in time for spring and the dozens of events it brings, the transformation will be not only visually stunning but will equal any venue in terms of luxury, said Bonura with assuredness.
“We have dozens of functions here, and we want our guests to be surrounded by beauty and as pampered as possible for their event … if a bride and groom are getting married here, they want their guests and family to have the best … and so do we.”
In tandem with the lobby renovation is work on the 10-story hotel”™s 200-plus rooms, where everything will be replaced, right down to the bathroom sink, which will now be granite. “It was time for a change,” Bonura said. “When you renovate, you don”™t do odds and ends. You start from the ceiling and work your way down to the flooring.” The hotel is already wireless, but to keep up with ever-changing technology, flat screen HDTVs and two phones will be in each room, along with microwave/kitchen combos for added comfort.
The hotel”™s four ballrooms will remain unchanged for the present: Palm Court, Dutchess, Regency and Starlight will be addressed next year, Bonura said. “Right now, the focus is the lobby ”“ concierge desk, the bar/restaurant area right down to the hallway leading to the ballrooms. We”™ll get to the ballrooms next year.”
Making Bonura”™s life a bit easier are his staff, who have no problem genuinely expressing affection for their boss. “He”™s a wonderful person to work for, and he treats us like family … and he”™s got a wonderful family,” said Maureen Kangas, multitasking as the hotel”™s food, beverage, sales and marketing director. “Joe”™s an incredible visionary. I have been in this business most of my career, but I am so fortunate to work for Joe and his family. They are great people and great to their staff.”
Prena Zadrima, the hotel”™s executive housekeeper, smiled in agreement. “I”™ve been with Joe for four years. He”™s the best.”
Along with Bonura, sons Michael and Joe Jr. are part of the family team. From concierge to kitchen, the family is high on detail and quality presentation.
The views of the Hudson on the western side of the building are stunning, an amenity Bonura and DiBrizzi saw so many years ago. Today, not only do guests enjoy the Poughkeepsie Grand, but Bonura”™s new catering facility on the Hudson, the Grandview and an adjacent restaurant, Shadows on the Hudson. More will come in the future to the site: Bonura owns the property where the Grandview sits majestically with a view of the Mid-Hudson Bridge and the mountains as a backdrop.
He”™s not neglecting his first venture, Anthony”™s Pier 9 in New Windsor, on the west side of the Hudson, where the bulk of the area”™s largest functions are held. He”™ll be building a new hotel next to it, on property he bought years ago. “We already have a franchise agreement with Best Western,” Bonura said. We will be able to offer hotel accommodations for our weddings and other events.”
Timetable for the new hotel? “Let me get done with the Grand first!” Bonura said.
His accounting expertise is obvious when he starts talking dollars and cents: “Everything is higher these days…you go shopping, don”™t you?” he asked rhetorically. “Last year, 30 dozen eggs cost $19.30. This year, it”™s $47.20. One of my delivery guys has a $15 surcharge on every delivery, even if he makes 40 deliveries on the same day and in the same area. But that”™s what”™s happening here. So when we rebuild, we just don”™t say, ”˜OK, each door will have a new lock and key. We multiply it out. We pay our people good wages because you need make decent money to be able to afford to live here. Prices of everything are skyrocketing.”
Despite costs, those familiar with the hotel”™s white baby grand will be pleased to learn it has a great new home at the Catherine Street Community Center, donated to the nonprofit that helps inner-city youth.
