community
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
December 19-25, 2012
Page C-2
Hotel St. Regis: Escape to Detroit luxury By Melody Moore SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
In 2011, several local business leaders took advantage of a chance to revive what was once a thriving hotel in Detroit’s Midtown — Hotel St. Regis. The leaders, O’Neil D. Swanson and Linda Swanson of Swanson Funeral Home, Inc.; Shirley Johnson, a longtime educator and business owner; John Bernard and attorney Jason Wilson formed the managing partnership team. “We saw an opportunity to preserve the char-
acter of the hotel while making it a first rate destination in Detroit,” said Johnson. “We all have memories of Hotel St. Regis and we wanted to save it because it is vital in Detroit’s history. Hotel St. Regis had been a jewel and we are going to restore it to its previous glory and luster.” Located at 3071 W. Grand Blvd. and Woodward in the New Center area, the 125-room capacity hotel features a lounge, four suites, private banquet areas and ballrooms. Since the hotel has been under new ownership, more than $100,000 in
renovations has been completed. The upgrades include new roofing, furnaces, bedding upgrades and new furniture in the hotel lobby and banquet areas. Among its amenities are valet parking, car rental service, a 24-hour business center, complimentary high speed Internet throughout the hotel and complimentary membership to Fitness Works, a full service fitness center nearby. “The hotel had been in receivership so when we bought it we refurbished almost everything,” said
AGENT SPOTLIGHT
LINDA SWANSON (left), vice president, Swanson Funeral Home Inc.; Shirley Johnson; O’Neil D. Swanson Sr., president and CEO, Swanson Funeral Home, Inc.; and Wayne Thomas. — Oxygen photo O’Neil D. Swanson. “The bar was closed and the restaurant had been closed for several months. This was a hotel without a bar or restaurant. We wanted to show Detroiters that we could save this. Detroit has been good to us and we want to be good to Detroit.”
Agent Jackie Davis
Agent John Cash
6069 Rawsonville Road Belleville, MI 48111-2546 Phone: (734) 480-7348
16022 Grand River Detroit, MI 48227-1820 Phone: (313) 836-1133
Office hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sat. and Sun. by appointment
Office hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
About Jackie…
About John…
• Central Michigan University, B.S. and M.S.A. • Boys & Girls Club Advisory Council, 1st Vice President • Belleville Area Chamber of Commerce, President-Elect • ATS Agent • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. • Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Associate • Nat’l Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors
• Arizona State University, BS • NAACP • Member, Oak Grove AME Church
After the hotel was purchased, a restaurant,La Musique, opened with a menu ranging from Southern specialties to house creations. Among the guest-favored dishes are the fried Cornish hen, Crab Cakes and St. Regis Gumbo. Founded in 1970, Hotel St. Regis was once a premier venue, located across from the headquarters of General Motors. With the Fisher Theater and other shops in the area, the hotel was frequented by business professionals and families on the weekend, enjoying the Sunday brunch. After years of declining business, the hotel was not financially healthy. The new managing team had their work cut out for them. Employing 42 people,
Hotel St. Regis caters to business professionals and guests who may be hosting special events. The ballroom, which has a capacity of 300-400 guests, can be sectioned off into separate areas or used as one large meeting room. “Because we are not corporate, we are owned and operated by an intimate partnership and we have a cohesive focus on world class service, exceptional cuisine,” said Linda Swanson. “We are able to provide customer service and personalized attention to guests in a way that some larger hotels cannot.” Hotel St. Regis intends to corner the market in Detroit of providing customized service to accommodate every need of the guests, whether they are booking a special event or staying in the hotel. “When guests walk into Hotel St. Regis they can expect to experience quality service, excellent cuisine; they will be met by a friendly, attentive staff and see beautiful ballrooms,” said Wayne Thomas, interim general
manager. The hotel is also near one of the city’s rising neighborhoods, Midtown. With the attraction of major sporting events and conferences, Hotel St. Regis aims to develop its customer base and continue to grow. However, the hotel offers services for those who live in the metro Detroit area too. Special events and the restaurant cuisine can draw those who are looking to enjoy an evening out and not have to leave the city to do so. The investors wanted to revitalize the hotel and wanted it to prosper. They are all fully committed to this cause. From the moment a guest walks into Hotel St. Regis until the time they leave, the investors and all employees want their experience to be a positive one. In fact, they want to exceed any of the guests’ expectations. For more information about Hotel St. Regis, call (313) 873-3000 or visit www.hotelstregisdetroit. com.
Joyous holiday wishes to you and your family… from your good neighbor. May all your wishes come true this wondrous season. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY.
Colleen Ann Kerner 5005 E 14 Mile Rd, Ste 100 Sterling Heights, MI 48310 Bus: 586-979-3600
John Cash 19203 Grand River Ave Detroit, MI 48223 Bus: 313-537-1200
Dwight E V Jones C Knight Insurance Agcy Inc 29706 Grand River Ave Charlotte Knight Farmington Hills, MI 48336 7100 W Seven Mile Rd Bus: 248-476-0030 Detroit, MI 48221 Bus: 313-340-9000
Teleese O Nobles 19145 Beech Daly Rd. Redford, MI 48240 Bus: 313-948-3900
Patricia Ouellette 3564 W Vernor Hwy Detroit, MI 48216 Bus: 313-554-1500
Angie Mapp 417 E 4th St Royal Oak, MI 48067 Bus: 248-398-2222
Jackie Davis 6069 Rawsonville Rd Belleville, MI 48111 Bus: 734-480-7348
John Little 23221 Plymouth Rd Detroit, MI 48239 Bus: 313-535-1100
Beverly Lochard 18601 15 Mile Rd. Clinton Township, MI 48035 Bus: 586-296-1616
Shirley Redrick ChFC CLU CPCU Lisa L Rich 2140 Washtenaw Rd 4319 Metropolitan Pkwy Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Sterling Heights, MI 48310 Bus: 734-482-6570 Bus: 586-979-9700
Ivy Fields-Releford Alisa O Green Ins Agcy Inc 2925 Walton Blvd Alisa O Green Rochester Hills, MI 48309 29610 Southfield Rd Bus: 248-375-0510 Southfield, MI 48076 Bus: 248-559-0000
Eugene Hawkins III 577 E. Walton Blvd Pontiac, MI 48340 Bus: 248-377-1776
Eric D Huffman Ins Agcy Inc Eric D Huffman 3031 W. Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202 Bus: 313-875-3172
Veronica R Murff 24360 Novi Rd Novi, MI 48375 Bus: 248-380-6446
James H Martin Ins Agcy Inc James H Martin 13650 W. 8 Mile Rd Oak Park, MI 48237 Bus: 248-399-6260
Tony Massey 15 E Kirby St Detroit, MI 48202 Bus: 313-873-3334
Glenda McGuire Ins Agcy Inc Glenda McGuire 26600 Gratiot Ave. Roseville, MI 48066 Bus: 586-771-4050
Dolapo T Shodipo 22511 Telegraph Rd Southfield, MI 48033 Bus: 248-327-6745
Vev Tripp Ins and Fin Svcs Inc Vev Tripp 24530 Gratiot Ave Eastpointe, MI 48021 Bus: 586-772-7474
Kenya Wells 14346 E Jefferson Detroit, MI 48215 Bus: 313-822-KW4U
statefarm.com® 1101451
State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL