Two historic hotels in downtown St. Paul, both of which have survived all kinds of ups and downs through the years, are undergoing major renovations.
John Rupp, who heads the locally based
Commonwealth Properties, is behind both projects. First, the 1917-built Hotel 340, which Rupp recently opened as a boutique hotel with extended-stay units, will expand this fall from 37 rooms to 57.
The St. Paul Athletic Club will occupy 70,000 square feet in the building, which he says "makes it even more special."
Cherrywood floors, restoration hardware-like furnishings, kitchenettes and an English renaissance-style lobby characterize the old-fashioned Hotel 340, which is the city's first new hotel since 1980, according to Rupp.
One of the few boutique types in the east metro, he says it's "competitive with the major hotels in town."
Similarly, the Lowry Hotel, which dates to 1927, will be remodeled with a 40-unit boutique hotel next year. It will also have extended-stay units, he says.
In the 1960s, the hotel had been converted into apartments, he says. But a beautiful two-story lobby is reminiscent of the building's old days, he says.
As a part of the plan
W.A. Frost & Company will run a rooftop restaurant above the hotel, he says.
Although Rupp says he's not able to discuss the cost of either project, he says they're being privately financed.
In his view, there's a big market for these kinds of hotels in the area. "A lot of people come to town to go to the Xcel Center and conventions, for business and tourism," he says, adding that as independently run hotels, they "can have unique and quirky personalities, yet still compete with others."
Source: John Rupp, Commonwealth Properties
Writer: Anna Pratt