Former Ramada hotel in downtown Eau Claire to close

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - "It just finally culminated in this," said Dan Goelzer.

He had a bad feeling that one day the former Ramada Hotel, which sits right across from his Calico Shoppe and Purple Petunia businesses, would one day have to close its doors.

"The whole process started out not going well, so the negativity around it made it not bring customers in," he said.

While he says he does not rely on business from travelers to keep his shops open, he says every little bit helps.

"It's unfortunate, anytime we lose a business particularly in our downtown area, to the significance of the Ramada, it plays a big role," said Eau Claire City Manager Russ Van Gompel.

Van Gompel says he hopes there are more lodging options in the future for visitors.

"We want people to feel welcome, we want guests to stay downtown, that's all part of having a viable downtown community," he said.

Lauren Brodsky knows that first-hand. She loves visiting downtown Eau Claire and says the property is in a great spot.

"It's centrally located, it's super close to the river," she added.

Rebecca Durham's kids have their own ideas about what could take its place.

"Another big hobby store, a giant one," one joked.

And so a building sits, awaiting its third sheriff's sale next month after foreclosure. Eight stories of space that could one day become someone's success story.

"There's a lot of opportunities downtown but really it takes someone to put up with a little risk and they can make a go of it down here, it's a good place to start out," Goelzer added.

A hotel official says the Holidaze Craft sale scheduled for Saturday will go on as planned. The VP of Operations for SNL Hospitality says anyone with reservations for rooms or events will be contacted individually.

SNL Hospitality operates the Eau Claire Hotel and Convention Center, which is formerly the Ramada Convention Center and Hotel, on S. Barstow Street in Eau Claire. On Tuesday, its vice president of operations told WEAU 13 News the facility will close at the end of the day Saturday. He says SNL is finding new jobs for employees where they can. The hotel currently has 25 employees. SNL is contacting guests and people who are planning to host events at the hotel individually, and is still waiting for information about the future of the restaurants housed in the building.

The hotel has been the subject of two sheriff's sales. Earlier this month, WEAU 13 News learned that the hotel would be sold at auction for the third time on December 3. Two previous winning bidders did not make payments on time. If the winning bidder and the runner-up at the December 3 auction do not pay, a Minneapolis-based lender would be able to take the hotel and use it as payment for the original owner's debt.

Reported by:  WEAU.com