Officials believe $4.4 million hotel is key to growth at Troy Towne Park

Development lands Fricker's, Comfort Suites

A major development off Interstate 75 in Troy is moving forward with a new hotel and the area's largest Fricker's restaurant location.

The hotel, a $4.4 million Comfort Suites, will be the latest addition to the Troy Towne Park development that hugs the northern side of the Wal-Mart Super Center along Interstate 75.

Fricker's and Cold Stone Creamery will open shortly after construction begins on the hotel.

Officials with Singer Properties, the developer of Troy Towne Park, believe the hotel is the key to spurring more growth in the 67-acre development.

"The hotel will be an impetus for the remaining parcels," said Alex Kolodesh, with Singer.

Troy Towne Park currently houses the 204-unit Towne Park Apartments, The Learning Place, Winans Fine Chocolates and Coffee, Cork-N-Vine, Dagwood's, A.G. Edwards, National City, Outback Steakhouse and Jay & Mary's Book Center.

There are about 28 acres of land left. Kolodesh said the addition of Fricker's, Cold Stone and Comfort Suites will help to tie the development together.

"When we take these final pieces and we put them together, it will look really special," Kolodesh said.

Comfort Suites had originally planned to break ground last August, but Kolodesh said design changes held up the starting date.

He hopes to market the remaining out-parcels to other restaurants once the hotel is underway.

While the Comfort Suites won't open until next April, city leaders are looking forward to a new hotel.

This will be the ninth hotel in Troy, and the first one to crop up in several years. Jim Dando, director of development for the city of Troy, said Comfort Suites will fill some of the demand for hotel rooms.

"We have a number of hotels that are full the majority of the time, with business travelers and tourism travelers," Dando said. "This will supply some more rooms."

Comfort Suites will cater to business and tourism travelers, offering more space and amenities than the average hotel.

Fricker's and Cold Stone will also boost the area's offerings of amenities.

Paul Curtis, director of franchising and human resources for Dayton-based Fricker's USA, said the company wanted to find a good location in Troy because of the potential for growth.

"We have looked in Troy for many years for a property," Curtis said.

Work has already started on the 7,000-square-foot location, which is gunning for a Sept. 1 opening date.

Cleveland-based Reece Custom Construction is finishing the restaurant. Curtis said opening the new location will cost about $650,000 including kitchen materials, TVs, tables and chairs and training.

This Fricker's, which will be company-owned, will also feature a large game room with darts and an outdoor patio.

Curtis said Troy Towne Park was the right location for the company's 19th location because it will open strong and gain customers as the region grows and develops.

"The store will do very good from the beginning, but it will improve over time as well," he said.

The beer-and-wing joint will hire about 100 employees, a mix of full- and part-timers. The restaurant will seat more than 250 guests.

Comfort Suites is being built by Dayton-based J & E Builders Group.

The three-story hotel will have 66 rooms. All of the rooms will be suites, with areas for sleeping and for lounging and working.

"They are bigger, nicer, with refrigerators, microwaves and flat screen TVs," said Jeff Vaughan, project manager with J&E Builders Group.

The 45,000-square-foot hotel also will feature a two-story lobby and fireplace, an indoor pool and hot tub connected by a waterfall, and space for a hot and cold continental breakfast.

J&E started as a residential builder in 1994 but has since moved into commercial and office work. This is the first hotel for J&E, but Vaughan has said his company is looking to bid on more hotels.

E-mail tdemeropolis@bizjournals.com. Call (937) 528-4427.