Historic cargo warehouse reopens as inn

VERMILION — One of Vermilion's older downtown buildings has been given new life as Breje Inn, a five-suite boutique inn and event space. The building, long remembered by many residents as the former Cargo Warehouse, dates back to the 19th century and carries ties to Vermilion's early riverfront and lumber history. Owners and spouses Gary and Nicole Moyse said they purchased the building about three years ago after seeing potential in the structure and its history. "We looked at it a couple of times and just knew we wanted to do something with it," Nicole said. It's "such a beautiful building." After about a year of planning and approvals, the couple spent the next two years renovating the property. Preserving the building's character The Moyses said part of the goal was to preserve as much of the building's character as possible while making it usable for guests and events. The upstairs still includes original floors, and original beams remain visible throughout the building. The owners also kept exposed wood walls in parts of the inn and insulated them from the outside so the structure's age and character could still be seen. Nicole said the building had become dark and dingy from later uses, including its time as a sheet metal shop, but the couple wanted to brighten the space without stripping away its past. The building also includes reminders of earlier eras. The owners said they found faded markings associated with Fisher Lumber when the siding was removed, and an old Cargo Warehouse sign remains part of the property's story. A new use downtown Breje Inn now includes five individual suites. Each suite includes a private bath, queen bed, pullout sofa and kitchenette. The building can be rented by individual room or as a full property for larger groups. The first floor also serves as an event space. The Moyses said the space has already hosted showers, and a wedding is scheduled there in August. The renovation also brought in new touches while keeping the building's rustic feel. Some removed posts were repurposed into railings, and Amish-made furniture and woodwork were used throughout parts of the inn. Open house welcomes public On June 7, Breje Inn hosted an open house, inviting residents to tour the renovated building and see the work that has been done. The inn is located at 699 Toledo St., behind the Garage Bar & Grill, across from the boat club and near downtown Vermilion's shops, restaurants and waterfront. The owners said they are still working through final details as they continue to introduce the inn to the community. Booking information is expected to be available through Breje Inn's online and social media pages. For the Moyses, the project is both a business and a preservation effort, giving an old downtown building a new purpose while keeping its history visible in the floors, beams, walls and small details that remain throughout the space. "We didn't want to lose the character of it," Nicole said. Walking through the finished inn, it is clear that history remains part of the experience: from the original beams and floors to the reused materials and reminders of the building's earlier life. What's in a name? Regarding the name Breje Inn: • Breje is an acronym for Gary and Nicole Moyse's five children: — B for Brett — R for Robbie — E for Eva — J for Jacob — E for Ethan • Inn helps people quickly understand it's an overnight lodging site.