What Method does

Method Co. is a Philadelphia-based, privately held real estate and hospitality company founded in 2012 by Randall Cook and David Grasso that develops, owns, and operates a portfolio of design-forward apartment hotels, boutique hotels, and food and beverage concepts across the U.S. East Coast and Midwest. The company runs the ROOST Apartment Hotel platform across eight markets (Philadelphia with two locations, Detroit, Austin, Baltimore, Cleveland, Tampa, and Washington D.C.), plus three boutique hotels—The Pinch and The Nickel in Charleston and The Quoin in Wilmington—and a separate residential hospitality sub-brand called Whyle. Its food and beverage portfolio spans more than 20 concepts, including Michelin-recognized Lowland and Hiroki, French brasserie Le Suprême, Japanese restaurants Hiroki-san and Sakazuki, and cocktail destinations Aladdin Sane, Simmer Down, and Rosemary Rose.

The underlying technology layer centers on a proprietary ROOST hospitality platform providing booking management, 24/7 concierge, front desk, curated amenities, and residential building integration for flexible short and extended stays. Method Studios, the company's in-house creative arm, produces branding, visual identity, interior design, and content creation, supporting both owned properties and external hospitality clients. Real estate development is executed in partnership with capital providers including Goldman Sachs, Capital Square, Bedrock Detroit, JBG Smith, and National Real Estate Advisors, with the company serving as both developer and operator.

Method Co. monetizes through hotel and apartment-hotel room revenue, food and beverage sales across owned venues, real estate development fees, and Method Studios' professional creative services. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via property websites and earned media (Michelin Guide, Travel + Leisure, Forbes, Condé Nast Traveler, NYT, Esquire), with no third-party resellers. The company is headquartered at 1523 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, employs 101-250 people, and is recognized with two Michelin Keys and multiple Travel + Leisure and Esquire accolades.

Name

Method

Legal name

Method Co.

Website

https://methodco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Method Co. is a Philadelphia-based real estate and hospitality company that develops, owns, and operates the ROOST Apartment Hotel platform, boutique hotels, and over 20 food and beverage concepts across major U.S. cities, partnering with institutional capital providers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Services

NAICS

Traveler Accommodation (7211), Accommodation (721), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011), Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

Keywords

• Boutique hospitality operations
• Apartment hotel management
• Restaurant and bar operations
• Hospitality real estate development
• Hospitality branding and design

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Hotel & Apartment Hotel Operations: Revenue from operating boutique hotels and extended-stay apartment hotels. ROOST properties offer design-forward furnished residences with concierge service for short and extended stays. The company operates The Pinch, The Nickel Hotel, The Quoin, and multiple ROOST locations.
2. Food & Beverage Operations: Revenue from owned and operated restaurants, bars, cocktail lounges, coffee shops, and event venues. The portfolio includes over 20 food and beverage concepts across properties.
3. Real Estate Development Services: The company engages with developers and ownership groups from concept through execution, guiding design standards, market positioning, and operational requirements for hospitality real estate projects.
4. Branding & Design Services: Method Studios provides full-service creative work including brand strategy, visual identity, interior design, and content creation for external hospitality clients.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Method Co. develops, designs, and operates high-end apartment-style residences (notably the ROOST Apartment Hotel platform), boutique hotels (The Pinch, The Nickel Hotel, The Quoin Hotel), and over 20 food and beverage concepts across major U.S. cities. The company partners with real estate developers and capital partners from project inception to activate hospitality assets, then manages operations through its own hospitality platform. Through Method Studios, it also provides full-service branding, visual identity, interior design, and content creation for its own properties and external hospitality clients.

Product overview

Method Co. is a real estate and hospitality company operating a multi-brand portfolio across apartment hotels, boutique hotels, restaurants, and bars. The core offering includes the ROOST Apartment Hotel platform (extended-stay hospitality with furnished residences across 8 U.S. locations), boutique hotels (The Pinch, The Nickel Hotel, The Quoin Hotel), and numerous food and beverage concepts (Lowland, Le Suprême, Hiroki-san, Rosemary Rose, Bar Daniel, Aladdin Sane, Kamper's Rooftop Lounge, Bar Rotunda, Sakazuki, Simmer Down). The company also offers professional services through Method Studios for branding, design, and interior design. Properties are primarily located in major U.S. cities including Philadelphia, Detroit, Charleston, Austin, Baltimore, Cleveland, Tampa, Washington D.C., and Wilmington, with investment and development partnerships supporting expansion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ROOST Apartment Hotel: Apartment hotel platform offering design-forward furnished residences for short and extended stays with concierge service and amenities.
• The Pinch
• The Nickel Hotel
• The Quoin Hotel
• Lowland
• Le Suprême
• Hiroki
• Whyle

Products and services

• ROOST Apartment Hotel Extended-stay apartment hotel platform offering thoughtfully furnished residences with concierge service, fully equipped kitchens, and vibrant shared spaces for short and long stays, designed for modern travelers, business travelers on multi-week assignments, relocations, digital nomads, and multi-generational families.
• The Pinch Boutique hotel with 25 thoughtfully designed rooms featuring large open kitchens, original artwork, and handcrafted furniture in restored historic buildings, serving luxury leisure travelers, romantic getaway guests, and cultural tourists.
• The Nickel Hotel Fifty-room boutique hotel on Upper King Street in Charleston's Cannonborough neighborhood with interior courtyard, rooftop bar Rosemary Rose, and second-floor bar Bar Daniel, serving luxury leisure travelers and design-forward guests.
• The Quoin Hotel Boutique hotel housed in a former bank in Wilmington, Delaware, featuring Simmer Down bar, a rooftop lounge, and The Quoin Restaurant serving seasonal Italian-inspired cuisine, designed for luxury leisure travelers.
• Whyle Residential hospitality concept for modern living offering furnished residences and integrated shared spaces for short and extended stays, designed for extended-stay travelers seeking simplicity, comfort, and everyday ease.
• Lowland Southern-inspired tavern in a historic building off King Street in Charleston, recognized by Michelin and overseen by Chef Matt Dion, offering innovative Low Country fare to local residents and hotel guests.
• Le Suprême French brasserie-style restaurant in Detroit's historic Book Tower offering classic French fare including seafood towers and steak au poivre, serving local residents, hotel guests, and visitors.
• Hiroki-san Japanese restaurant in Detroit's Book Tower basement overseen by Executive Chef Hiroki Fujiyama, showcasing finest Japanese ingredients using traditional and contemporary techniques, serving local residents and hotel guests.
• Rosemary Rose Rooftop lounge and bar atop The Nickel Hotel in Charleston celebrating Mediterranean lifestyle with small plates, artisanal cocktails, and sweeping views, serving hotel guests and local patrons.
• Bar Daniel Intimate cocktail bar on the second floor of The Nickel Hotel serving expertly crafted cocktails, designed for hotel guests and local patrons.
• Aladdin Sane Hidden cocktail bar in Detroit's Book Tower inspired by Tokyo's traditional Japanese cocktail bars, featuring top-shelf and rare Japanese spirits and cocktails for cocktail enthusiasts and hotel guests.
• Kamper's Rooftop Lounge Rooftop bar atop the 14th floor of Book Tower in Detroit paying homage to the building's visionary architect, serving traditional Basque tapas, wine, and cocktails with expansive skyline views.
• Bar Rotunda All-day cafe and wine bar in Detroit's Book Tower lobby under a beautifully restored 100-year-old Keppler glass dome, serving hotel guests and local patrons.
• Sakazuki Japanese-style pub in downtown Detroit featuring sake, beer, and bar snacks like sandos and chicken wings in a pop-art-inspired atmosphere, serving local residents and cocktail enthusiasts.
• Anthology Events Elegant event space on the 13th floor of Book Tower in Detroit offering multiple stylish venues, world-class views, and experienced staff for corporate functions and weddings, designed for event planners and corporate clients.
• Simmer Down Dimly-lit bar located in The Quoin's former bank money vault in Wilmington, Delaware, named one of America's best cocktail bars by Esquire in 2024, serving cocktail enthusiasts and hotel guests.
• Method Studios Full-service creative studio providing brand strategy, visual identity, interior design, and content creation for Method Co.'s own properties as well as external hospitality clients including hotels, restaurants, and bars.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Nickel Hotel generated 250 construction jobs and is expected to contribute $1.9 million to GDP and $1.2 million in annual labor income

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Morris AdjimiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York-based architectural firm known for melding historical context and contemporary design sensibility. Often works on adaptive reuse projects, transforming historic structures into vibrant modern spaces.
• Stokes Architecture + DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhiladelphia-based full-service architecture and interior design firm founded by Richard Stokes. Expertise spans large-scale rebuilds to intimate interior fit-outs, including restaurants and food & beverage spaces.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sonder Holdings: Tech-enabled operator of apartment-style short- and extended-stay properties in urban markets. Direct competitor to ROOST, with overlapping customer base (business travelers, relocations) and similar design-forward, apartment-hotel positioning.
• AKA (Korman Communities): Luxury extended-stay apartment-hotel operator where CEO Randall Cook was previously COO and helped launch the brand. Closest direct comparable to ROOST in product, customer, and brand DNA.
• Ace Hotel Group: Design-forward boutique hotel operator with F&B and cultural programming at the core. Directly comparable in design-led positioning, F&B integration, and lifestyle-brand building.
• Sage Hospitality Group: Hotel owner, developer, and operator with a portfolio spanning boutique and lifestyle brands. Comparable as a developer-operator hybrid with in-house F&B expertise.
• HEI Hotels & Resorts: Operator and partial owner of upper-upscale and boutique hotels across the U.S. Comparable as a third-party operator at scale with full-service hotel and F&B management capabilities.
• Highgate Hotels: Major hospitality management and investment company operating boutique, lifestyle, and full-service hotels with integrated F&B. Comparable as a multi-format operator with a strong development pipeline.
• Dream Hotels: Boutique hotel operator with integrated nightlife and F&B programming. Comparable in design-led, F&B-centric boutique positioning targeting similar luxury lifestyle travelers.
• 1 Hotels: Luxury, design-forward boutique hotel brand with strong sustainability and F&B credentials. Comparable in premium positioning, design quality, and integrated restaurant/bar concept strategy.

Emerging players

• Life House: Tech-enabled boutique hotel management company focused on independent and soft-brand properties. Comparable in design-forward, lifestyle positioning and asset-light operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Pebblebrook Hotel Trust: Public REIT specializing in acquiring and operating lifestyle and boutique hotels in urban markets. Comparable asset class and brand positioning, though at materially larger scale and with a different capital structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/methodcompanies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Method