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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Friday, August 28, 2009 9:09 PM CDT
New owner hopes to reopen as Days Inn by November

By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer

MATTOON -- In about 60 days the former Ramada Inn will reopen as a Days Inn, the new owner said Friday.

The first stages of a $1-million-plus remodeling of the 125-room hotel calls for an opening no later than Nov. 1, said Amair Patel, an out-of-state hotel owner with family ties to Central Illinois.

“We’re very excited about this project in Mattoon,” said Patel, whose partners are affiliated with more than a dozen hotel properties. “We’re spending two times the buying price on renovations.”

The buying price for the long-idled Ramada hotel and convention center was $700,000, according to documents filed with the Coles County Supervisor of Assessments office. The property was purchased by “Matoon Hospitality LLC” of Richmond, Va., from American Enterprise Bank of Schaumburg.

The makeover of the hotel, located at 300 Broadway Ave East, involves replacement of the roof, windows and doors, mold removal, painting, updates on the heating and cooling units as well as bathrooms, the lobby and indoor pool, according to a permit filed with the Mattoon Code Enforcement Office this week.

“It’s a shame what happened to it. And it it’s a great location in Mattoon,” Patel said during a phone interview Friday.

Workers have been busy in recent weeks on the first phase of remodeling.

Another future addition to the hotel will be a new restaurant. Patel said the plan is to look for a restaurant owner or company to enhance the hotel in the near future.

“We’re willing to offer the restaurant space free until a person with a proven track record can stabilize their business. Then we can work out an agreement,” Patel said.

Anyone interested can call Patel at 1-804-814-2905.

The hotel will employ up to 25 people, Patel said. A new restaurant would add more to the job count.

“The city has been very helpful with us getting this started. We keep hearing this hotel has been a cornerstone of the community,” Patel said.

The site has a long history, originally as a Holiday Inn nearly half a century ago with banquet facility, indoor pool, restaurant and a lounge. The Ramada was the latest version of the hotel, but it went into decline during this decade and eventually shut down. Three different restaurant entities opened and closed during the past five years at the Ramada.

Patel believes his company can reverse the recent history of the property.

“We do have a lot to prove ourselves. But people are saying they hope we see this through. And no one has done a renovation like this on that hotel,” Patel said.

Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.

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Hammbone wrote on Aug 29, 2009 5:24 AM:

" Having had worked there sometime ago.The single most important thing that place is in need of.Do away with the flat roof.That roof is a horror story.Rooms were taken off block because of the leaks.The whole west side top floor leaked terribly. One in three rooms leaked water on the second floor.The inside dome had mold so badly,a person with bleach had to start at one end and work to the other,and when finished start all over again. The most appalling thing as you walk in the place is the stail smell from the bar,the smell of old beer and sweet candies used in drinks. One couldnt enjoy the food for the smell of the rotin fowl bar stink. It needs to be torn down and started over fresh.Otherwise you will have the same old problems that plauged the others that tried to make a go of it. "

Danny Boy wrote on Aug 29, 2009 11:11 AM:

" If they plan to open by November, then not too much will be fixed, but maybe some new paint.

That place would take over a year to fix right. It will probably always be an eye sore. "

~STRANGER~ wrote on Aug 29, 2009 5:54 PM:

" Will Habib sell slurpies? "

Mama says wrote on Aug 30, 2009 7:16 PM:

" Hopefully use hotwater for cleanups and dishwashing unlike one place EAST of Mattoon whose heaters are not repaired FAST when breakdown.
That is a lot of expense for no more business do. Still think could have the senior citizens sell homes, just have a room and maid service, eat there or nearly, probably stay out of nursing homes longer.
AFTER visiting the Marriott in St Louis, that is where I would want to retire. Bigger rooms, Chefs are excellen, and a lot of Malls closeby and othe attractions. Mattoon has some nice Parks, and Lincoln heitage. Wish them luck getting place in shape. "

medic57 wrote on Aug 30, 2009 7:33 PM:

" Nice way to show your racism there stranger. "

Rockin Rotty wrote on Aug 30, 2009 8:04 PM:

" Why does the name Patel ring a bell? Is this the owner of the other hotels, east of Mattoon, bought off McHughs? Or am I possibly thinking of the really rotten ones on south 45?

Anyone know? "

Jim1969 wrote on Aug 31, 2009 5:43 AM:

" Rotty, it could be because there are quite a few Patels who are doctors in the area. One is a radiologist at SBL and another practices medicine in Charleston not to mention several others in surrounding communities. "

Jim1969 wrote on Aug 31, 2009 5:47 AM:

" I wish them the best of luck but they have an uphill battle. Between the rep that place has earned over the years to all the motels in the area any more they are going to have their work cut out for them in more ways than one. "

~STRANGER~ wrote on Aug 31, 2009 6:53 AM:

" Medic57 at least I'm consistant with standing behind MY race how about you? "

Harry Potter wrote on Aug 31, 2009 7:29 AM:

" What? You mean people are willing to invest without running to city hall for a handout? Perhaps that's coming next. "

Raptor wrote on Aug 31, 2009 7:39 AM:

" Rotty: Patel is a very common name in India. Much like Smith in America. "

Rockin Rotty wrote on Aug 31, 2009 9:23 AM:

" OK, gotcha gang. Thanks for your help. "

medic57 wrote on Aug 31, 2009 12:03 PM:

" Stranger

The name Patel is of Indian desent, the sirname primarily meaning "Land owner" and the Name Habib means "Beloved" in Arabic. If you're going to be a bigot, at least try to be an educated one. Hey, maybe you're not a bigot, maybe you're just insanely jealous that he owns several hotels and you don't. "

~STRANGER~ wrote on Aug 31, 2009 4:42 PM:

" ~FREE BRIAN SHACKLES~ "

~STRANGER~ wrote on Aug 31, 2009 5:19 PM:

" Thank you for the history lesson Medic57.
Whats up with those green & red dots on their foreheads?
Oh yeah,your post also encouraged me to Google slurpie. "

medic57 wrote on Aug 31, 2009 10:50 PM:

" STRANGER~ wrote on Aug 31, 2009 4:42 PM:

" ~FREE BRIAN SHACKLES

Yeah, let's just let a 4 time DUI and 12 time major traffic offender out of jail so he can kill someone else. Nope, sorry, he needs to spend the rest of his life in Prison. That way, he can't kill anybody else. "