WILMINGTON — Travelers will have a new option to lay their heads in Clinton County — especially those planning an extended stay.
And they can get their car washed, too.
Michelle Horner, administrative assistant for the City of Wilmington’s Building and Zoning Department, confirmed Wednesday that zoning permits were obtained for a TownePlace Suites by Marriott on Holiday Drive off Rombach Avenue, across from Aldi, near the Hampton Inn & Suites.
And at the corner of Holiday Drive and Rombach will be a new car wash — Magic Tunnel Express Car Wash.
The hotel project’s co-owner, Doug Steinke — who owns the Hampton Inn & Suites and Holiday Inn Express — told the News Journal he hopes to have the plans completed by the end of January and, with city approval, hopes to start construction around the end of March or first of April.
The five-story hotel would have 90 rooms. He projects a 13-month construction period.
He and his business partner, Thomas Shoemaker, came up with the idea to open a TownePlace Suites when talk of Amazon first came to Wilmington.
But Steinke advised that the presence of the Wilmington Air Park, in general, inspired them to build it.
“There’s Amazon, and Delta is flying in,” said Steinke. “Pilots that come here for training are more than likely to stay here for three weeks. It’s a combination of all that.”
He added he felt it would be smart to build a suites hotel since it would be better for those staying longer than three or four days.
“They’re basically mini-apartments,” said Steinke, adding that each of which would include a patio and a kitchen.
He not only believes that having an extended stay hotel will draw in visitors, but especially one with the Marriott brand, which has many rewards members.
“Some people will only stay with their brand of choice,” he said. “Now they can get their reward points here.”
As for the car wash, according to their website (magictw.com), the Magic Tunnel Express Car Wash is a fully automatic car wash packed with “the latest, most cutting-edge car wash equipment available.”
