How It All Started
Look, I'll be honest with you - this place wasn't always the gem you see today. Back in 2018, when we first laid eyes on this building at 2847 Granville Street, it was... well, let's just say it needed some serious love.
But there was something about those bones, y'know? The original structure dated back to 1924, and you could still see hints of the craftsmanship they don't really do anymore. Our founder, Eleanor Thorne, walked through these halls and saw what nobody else could - a chance to bring back that old-world magic without losing what makes modern hospitality actually comfortable.
The Acquisition
Eleanor purchased the building after months of negotiation. Everyone thought she was nuts for taking on such a massive restoration project.
The Transformation
Two years of painstaking work. We brought in artisans from Scotland, stonemasons from Quebec, and even a master blacksmith who recreated the ironwork by hand. Every beam, every stone, every piece of stained glass was either carefully restored or recreated using traditional methods.
Opening Our Doors
March 15th, 2022 - we welcomed our first guests. I remember that night like it was yesterday. The look on people's faces when they stepped into the grand hall... that's when we knew we'd created something special.
The Philosophy Behind It All
Here's the thing about luxury - real luxury isn't just about thread count or fancy toiletries (though yeah, we've got those too). It's about making people feel like they've stepped into another world while still having all the creature comforts they're used to.
We wanted to create a space where history isn't just something you read about in a brochure. It's in the timber beams above your head, the stone archways you walk through, the tapestries that actually mean something. But at the same time, you've got high-speed WiFi, underfloor heating, and a mattress that'll spoil you for every other bed you'll ever sleep in.
"We're not trying to be a museum. We're trying to be a living, breathing piece of history that you can actually experience."
- Eleanor Thorne, FounderThe Runeblade Legacy
The name? Yeah, people ask about that a lot. "Runeblade" comes from an old Norse sword that was supposedly forged by a master craftsman who spent three years perfecting it. The "Chronos" part is Greek for time. Put 'em together and you get the idea - we're all about that intersection of timeless craftsmanship and the passage of time itself.
Eleanor's always been fascinated by medieval history, but she's also incredibly practical. She didn't want to create some stuffy period piece where you're afraid to touch anything. She wanted a place where you could run your hands along 100-year-old wood paneling, sit in a chair that looks like it belongs in a castle but feels like a cloud, and sip wine in a cellar that actually has some stories to tell.
Our Team
We've got about 47 people working here now, and honestly, they're what makes this place tick. From Marcus, our head chef who trained in Lyon but grew up in Vancouver, to Sofia, our spa director who knows more about wellness than anyone I've ever met, to James, our night concierge who's basically a walking encyclopedia of Vancouver history.
Everyone here genuinely cares about this place. You won't find people just going through the motions. When you stay with us, you'll see what I mean - there's a difference between service and hospitality, and our team gets that.
What We're About Today
Three years in, and we're still figuring things out, still improving. We've added the wellness sanctuary, expanded our heritage tour program, and just last month finished renovating the east wing conference halls. But the core mission hasn't changed - we're here to give you an experience that you literally can't get anywhere else.
Whether you're here for a romantic getaway, a business conference, or just need to escape the modern world for a bit, we've built something that hopefully speaks to that part of you that craves both adventure and comfort. It's a bit theatrical, sure, but life's too short for boring hotels, right?
Come see for yourself what we've created here. Walk the halls, feel the history, and yeah - enjoy the ridiculously comfortable beds while you're at it.