Developer hopes to open Comfort Suites by spring

The developer of a $2.2 million hotel project near Center Junction hopes to be open for business by the spring.

Pete Patel, a Carbondale, Ill.-based hotel developer and operator, said he's waiting for the final approval for his building permit application from Jackson city officials before breaking ground. The application needs just a single additional piece of paperwork from Patel's architect to be complete and win approval, city planning director Janet Sanders said last week.

"We are going to go over there tomorrow and try to hammer out everything that we need," Patel said. "I'll get it done."

The 62-room Comfort Suites hotel will be on the east side of Old Orchard Road, just off U.S. 61. Patel said he chose the location near Center Junction because it is convenient to Jackson, Cape Girardeau and Interstate 55. "That is the best location between Cape and Jackson," he said.

Although the Missouri Department of Transportation is building a new interchange for East Main Street and LaSalle Avenue at mile marker 102, the area isn't developed enough to take a risk on locating the hotel there, Patel said.

Patel, who works in partnership with his brother Manny Patel, formerly owned the Town House Inn in Cape Girardeau. They sold that hotel in November. He also and operates hotels in Paducah, Ky., Pinckneyville, Ill., Vienna, Ill., Carbondale, Ill., and Anna, Ill.

"We have been in business since 1977," he said. "We started with a 16-room motel. We work hard, but that is OK."

Because of the approaching end of the summer travel season, Patel said he's not going to rush construction, but expects that he can be ready to open in the spring, probably by late March or April.

The hotel will provide large units with separate sleeping and working areas. Comfort Suites is part of the Choice Hotels chain, which includes 10 brand name lodging groups, including EconoLodge, SleepInn and Clarion.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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