Ramada near Mitchell International sold, to be converted to Days Inn

The Ramada Plaza Airport Milwaukee sold for $2.75 million and the new owner plans to convert it into a Days Inn & Suites by the end of the month.

The 160-room hotel is at 6331 S. 13th St., just west of General Mitchell International Airport. The hotel has a pool, 6,200-square-foot banquet hall and about six meeting rooms. Parth Shaha led a group that bought the Oak Creek hotel and is president of Avasar Inc., which will operate it.

Shaha said the previous manager focused on the property’s event spaces and restaurants, whereas he plans to put more emphasis on the core hotel business. The Houlihan’s Restaurant and Bar in the hotel is no longer open, and Shaha said he is seeking a new operator to open an upscale sports-themed bar and restaurant there.

Shaha said the previous owners, Milwaukee Hotels LLC of Greenfield, recently invested about $2 million in improvements to the hotel.

“I walked in and all I had to do is vacuum and go,” Shaha said.

Shaha also owns and operates the Red Roof Inn Chicago near O’Hare International Airport and the Super 8 in Kenosha. He plans to read the market around Mitchell airport and set up a strategy next year to make the Days Inn stand out.

“It takes me about a year to know what the population is looking for,” Shaha said.

Reported by:  Milwaukee Business Journal