New owner, renovations announced for West Seattle’s only motel

themotel.jpg

(WSB photo from 2008)
Seattle West Inn, the former TraveLodge in The Triangle, is about to get a makeover under its new ownership, according to a news release just out of the WSB inbox. Working on more details, but for starters, from the news release (which you can read in its entirety here):

Saddle Rock Hospitality has assumed management of the Seattle West Inn, West Seattle’s only motel. The motel was recently acquired by a local investment group committed to reinvestment in the property with a goal of repositioning the motel in the marketplace.

Seattle-based Seattle Rock Hospitality took over management of the property in early October. Hotel veteran Joey Disque will oversee the motel operations and renovation. The motel concept, once complete, will offer price/value-appropriate lodging with a unique guest service paradigm for today’s traveler. The facility, services, and environment will facilitate contemporary guest activity by offering ‘most-valued’ amenities and self-enabled services.

“With our 50 guest rooms and more than 1,000 square feet of meeting space, this property has immense potential to be a draw for business and leisure travelers as well as a convenient location to host meetings and local events,” said Joey. …

Renovation plans include updated guest rooms, the addition of food and beverage services, full-service meeting and banquet facilities and new landscaping including the addition of an outdoor patio. The facility offers a variety of length-of-stay accommodations including the standard overnight as well as a mix of extended stay rooms and suites. Renovation is expected to begin in early 2011, during which time the property will remain open for business.

At one point, Harbor Properties – which has almost finished building the mixed-use Link nearby – was considering buying this site, but the deal was never completed. County records show the site was sold in September for $3 million; its previous owners bought it almost 11 years ago for $2.4 million. Its new owner is SSLL, LLC, whose partners include one of the owners of two properties across 36th from the motel site; another owner of those properties’ is also owner of the commercial building immediately north of the motel.

29 Replies to "New owner, renovations announced for West Seattle's only motel"

  • Beth December 15, 2010 (2:45 pm)

    Hallelujah!

  • Mary T December 15, 2010 (3:10 pm)

    I could not BE more excited! This is walking distance from our house — a new place for guests to stay!!!!! Hurry, Saddle Rock! (Their site looks promising, too.)

  • Cheryl December 15, 2010 (3:11 pm)

    HOORAH!!!
    .
    Now, if only they could make it retro/hip COOL like the Hotel San Jose in Austin, TX or the Jupiter Hotel in Portland, OR. Make West Seattle a destination!

  • chas redmond December 15, 2010 (3:18 pm)

    I hope they also have a range of accommodations for meeting space. There are a huge number of organizations and non-profits in West Seattle who are always scrounging for meeting space. A reasonable rate for a regularly-scheduled time could work to a lot of people’s and organizations’ advantage, as well as to the new owners. Anyway, as one who has stayed at the old TraveLodge (when house-hunting here in WS), I can say that there is truly a need for hotel accommodations here on the peninsula.

  • Cheryl December 15, 2010 (3:27 pm)

    Just looked at Saddle Rock Hospitality’s website; man… this could be so great for West Seattle!

  • d December 15, 2010 (4:01 pm)

    Bullseye!

    According to their site, Mr. Disque worked on the Sorrento. Read: boutique excellence.

  • EmmyJane December 15, 2010 (4:09 pm)

    Oh thank you Santa Clause for bringing us this Christmas present. That place was… um… what’s the word… ew. It will be so nice to have a close place for guests to stay.

  • HelperMonkey December 15, 2010 (4:12 pm)

    no more “No-Tell Motel” !

  • wally December 15, 2010 (4:22 pm)

    That is some good reporting. This is a A rated company doing some cool and unique things in the hotel business. Now I will not be nervous to put the family up there- instead of my house. Win-Win!

  • dameDonna December 15, 2010 (4:25 pm)

    Thank goodness! It’s really gone downhill the last 5+ years. It’s where my in-laws always stay when visiting.

  • skeeter December 15, 2010 (4:26 pm)

    I’m excited. I hope it is a thorough renovation. It would take a lot for me to recommend that hotel to friends/family wanting to stay in the area.

  • squareeyes December 15, 2010 (4:44 pm)

    Saddle Rock Hospitality has a pretty website, but where’s the content? They don’t name any properties they’ve worked with so we can get a sense of what they’ve done before and what we can expect.

  • Kayzel December 15, 2010 (5:18 pm)

    I kind of gag when I see tortured jargon like “price/value-appropriate lodging with a unique guest service paradigm” and “most-valued amenities and self-enabled services” but it will be great to have a local hotel for guests and visitors if it’s accessible and affordable.

  • michael December 15, 2010 (5:59 pm)

    are they renovating the hookers too ???

  • John long December 15, 2010 (6:01 pm)

    Look, we have so few options in this area let’s not discourage the new owners. I hope they invest in the property and develop something that I’d like to have a relative stay in — especially one I’d like to see again. Like the Quality Inn/Baron Suites in B’ham — not $35/night but not $100 either.

  • Admiral gal December 15, 2010 (6:54 pm)

    What Cheryl said… It’d be nice to see a Jupiter Hotel/Ace Hotel sort of metaphor, rooms under $100/night, outdoor leisure space, small meeting venue, walkable to the Junction, that “101 Things To Do in West Seattle” book on the bedside table… hoping this turns into a good thing for West Seattle. It’s outrageous that there’s no hotel over here, and while there are some B&Bs that are nice in W. Seattle, many travelers are on some kind of mix of biz/pleasure and want wifi and cable and a little coffee maker and could care less about doilies and croissants.

  • GenHillOne December 15, 2010 (7:12 pm)

    Reasonably priced, aesthetically pleasing, bed bug/drug dealer/hooker-free accommodations would be an EXCELLENT addition to the neighborhood!

  • kc December 15, 2010 (8:14 pm)

    Huh, this is exciting. Oddly, I never even knew that place existed. I guess that Ive just never even drove past.

  • Alki Resident December 15, 2010 (8:22 pm)

    Michael-did you need them to stay?

  • ad December 15, 2010 (10:18 pm)

    Yay! I always have to have guests say in downtown or Seatac.

    I hope they can make a real change and get rid of the bedbugs!

  • Jiggers December 16, 2010 (12:29 am)

    Now maybe the rooms will finally be cleaned properly. Those rooms rooms are dumps.

  • coffee December 16, 2010 (12:59 am)

    Nice, and I hope it is a good value for the money. Plus the meeting space will be a good addition. Also, did you know that there are several rental apartments in West Seattle that are fully furnished and rent by the night for as little as $50.00 a night? Worth checking out, they are listed on various travel sites.

    • WSB December 16, 2010 (1:15 am)

      I don’t know the price, but since you mention it, WSB sponsor Mural Apartments has vacation rentals – and a coupon/deal on the WSB Coupons page:
      https://westseattleblog.com/coupons

  • Judy Pickens December 16, 2010 (6:37 am)

    Does “unique guest service paradigm” come with the room or do I have to call housekeeping? Who qualifies as a “contemporary guest”? And please save me from wondering what “self-enabled services” are!

  • MCSD December 16, 2010 (8:05 am)

    I’ve always wondered why there wasn’t a decent motel/hotel in West Seattle. My in-laws stay there and I know they’ll enjoy the upgrade!!! Last time they were here they bought their own pillows and now store them with us.

  • KBear December 16, 2010 (10:57 am)

    I’m sure it will be the finest motel in all of West Seattle.

  • marty December 16, 2010 (12:08 pm)

    Motel spelled backwards is letom!!

  • Sandra December 17, 2010 (1:08 pm)

    What a welcome change! I hope that there will be some space dedicated to small-group or medium-group community meetings and/or luncheons.
    .
    We’ll see what actually comes to fruition. It’ll be important to attend design review meetings if we really want to have some input.

    • WSB December 17, 2010 (1:12 pm)

      I have a followup coming up with more details on the meeting space among other things … just trying to stop the “happening now/today” news stream long enough to write it :) – TR

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