PINE BLUFF, AR — Dozens of families who lived at a Pine Bluff hotel are scrambling to find a place to sleep after the owners decide to sell or close.
“We found out today we had to be out today,” said tenant Zach St.John
“Everybody was in chaos running around trying to find out what they’re doing,” said Jessica Durham who also lives at the hotel.
Durham and St. John stayed at the hotel across from the convention center for more than five months. Although they thought of it was a dream resort, business, according to owners, has been a nightmare.
The owners are looking to sell or close the hotel and gave the city two proposals Thursday–Buy the hotel for roughly $3,000,000 or lease it for $20,000 a month with a $1,000,000 investment to make the 200 room stay quote “franchise ready.”
“It’s a rock bottom price,” said Pine Bluff Mayor Debe Hollingsworth.
Owners said they’ve already invested $2,000,000 in the hotel, adding new rugs, TVs and other amenities but at the end of the year, they were still losing $350,000.
Some rooms have had hot water and electricity cut off. An action city officials said they did not know would happen as they review the proposal and facility.
“They never mentioned going to start this procedure, this closing,” said Mayor Hollingsworth.
As the city decides what they’ll do families are asked not to disturb.
“You’re not worried about yourself, you’re worried about your kids and replacing a home for them,” said St. John.
Hotel management said they have reimbursed some tenants for paid stays and parties and have not charged families who are in the moving process. City officials said they plan on meeting with owners to discuss the future of the hotel.
“We found out today we had to be out today,” said tenant Zach St.John
“Everybody was in chaos running around trying to find out what they’re doing,” said Jessica Durham who also lives at the hotel.
Durham and St. John stayed at the hotel across from the convention center for more than five months. Although they thought of it was a dream resort, business, according to owners, has been a nightmare.
The owners are looking to sell or close the hotel and gave the city two proposals Thursday–Buy the hotel for roughly $3,000,000 or lease it for $20,000 a month with a $1,000,000 investment to make the 200 room stay quote “franchise ready.”
“It’s a rock bottom price,” said Pine Bluff Mayor Debe Hollingsworth.
Owners said they’ve already invested $2,000,000 in the hotel, adding new rugs, TVs and other amenities but at the end of the year, they were still losing $350,000.
Some rooms have had hot water and electricity cut off. An action city officials said they did not know would happen as they review the proposal and facility.
“They never mentioned going to start this procedure, this closing,” said Mayor Hollingsworth.
As the city decides what they’ll do families are asked not to disturb.
“You’re not worried about yourself, you’re worried about your kids and replacing a home for them,” said St. John.
Hotel management said they have reimbursed some tenants for paid stays and parties and have not charged families who are in the moving process. City officials said they plan on meeting with owners to discuss the future of the hotel.
