By Howard Packowitz
NORMAL – One of the signature developments in Uptown Normal is about to change ownership, and the town council Monday night transferred the redevelopment agreement to the firm that is supposed to take over the property.
Without discussion, the council voted unanimously to transfer the agreement, initially adopted 14 years ago, to the new owner of the Marriott Hotel, the Carol A. Reitan Conference Center, and the parking deck on West Beaufort St. in Normal.
JDHQ Hotels, an affiliate of Georgia-based Atrium Hospitality, is expected to buy the Marriott from John Q. Hammons Hotels, which originally signed the lease for the conference center and use of the parking deck for 60 years.
The town had no choice but to accept the transfer because the new owner runs at least two “upscale full-service” hotels with a value of at least 20 million dollars.
Atrium’s website said the company operates 49 properties in 26 states.
In other business, the council, acting as Normal’s Liquor Commission, unanimously approved a liquor license for the new owner of Swingers Grille at 1304 Cross Creek Drive, in southwest Normal.
Swingers previous owners shut down the restaurant New Years Day, citing on their Facebook page a “steady decline of business and increasing costs.”
New owner, named Fine Eats, plans to reopen the business, much to the pleasure of council members Jeff Fritzen and Kevin McCarthy.
“We’re probably all happy to see some activity there,” said Fritzen.
“Happy to see somebody taking up the mantel and continuing a restaurant in our community,” McCarthy chimed in.
Fritzen presided over Monday’s meeting as Mayor Chris Koos is treated for prostate cancer.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
