• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Business / Cedar Rapids hotel slowly rebuilding

Cedar Rapids hotel slowly rebuilding

May 20, 2009 By admin

A major business in eastern Iowa is rebuilding its reputation under new management. The Crowne Plaza Hotel was often referred to as the "crown jewel" of downtown Cedar Rapids, but renovation work – originally scheduled to start in 1999 – came to a stand still. Just a year ago, the owners weren’t paying bills and owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes.

Employee paychecks bounced and health benefits were canceled. A bank now owns the 275-room hotel and repairs and renovations are on the fast track. General Manager Deb Stout says they’ve reopened the Top of the Five restaurant – located on the 16th floor. "It’s a gorgeous view from up there," Stout said.

The Crowne Plaza is the city’s largest hotel and one of the tallest buildings in Cedar Rapids. Presidents have stayed there and there’s a landing pad for helicopters on the roof. In a year and a half, Stout says the historic hotel took a major hit from the previous owner, Kronos Hotels. Not only did the reputation suffer, but renovation efforts took a hit too.

"They might put in vanities before they put in the carpet, so when the carpet came they had to take out the vanities and lay down carpet…a lot of things were done backwards as someone would do it to make it efficient," Stout said. The hotel’s pool, which was damaged in last year’s flooding, is expected to reopen in the next few months. Workers are also preparing to replace the carpet in the hallways and lobby.

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Business, Fires/Accidents/Disasters

Featured Stories

Iowans 65+ now eligible in next phase of Covid vaccinations

Bill would remove transfer limits in five Iowa school districts

Former Iowa sports talk host sentenced to federal prison for ticket scams

Feenstra only member of Iowa delegation not at Biden’s inauguration

Congresswoman Axne favors Biden pandemic relief plan, Hinson not ruling out a ‘yes’

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

UNI adds two nonconference games to basketball schedule

Iowa State-Kansas postponed

Iowa-Michigan State postponed

Fire damage to Riverfront Stadium electrical system will cost Waterloo thousands

Iowa State at Kansas State postponed

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC