The 11-year vacant Ogle’s Foods lot will become a Hampton Inn & Suites according to the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Photo: HDT file
It was announced at the Wednesday Hibbing Economic Development Authority meeting that Hampton Inn and Suites plans to develop the former Ogle’s Foods lot into a new Hibbing hotel. The Hibbing Daily Tribune reports and will have more in tomorrow’s paper. Plans could involve construction beginning as soon as December.
This is a bit of good news for Hibbing’s Beltline (the odd blend of industrial park and retail development along Highway 169), which has taken on a sorry look in recent years. There are a couple new mini malls, but the actual mall — Irongate Plaza — continues to have huge vacancy issues.
A development company was eyeing this lot last year and it appears that project bore fruit.
Another Hibbing hotel is needed. I organize Dylan Days every spring and it really doesn’t take much to fill up the town, particularly on holiday weekends. A new hotel would allow this Iron Range town bring in more people for tourism without running up against accommodation problems.
UPDATE: Here’s the press release from the development company:
Planning underway to build $9.5 million Hampton Inn & Suites in Hibbing
Hibbing could soon be home to a $9.5 million Hampton Inn & Suites, pending finalization of development agreements between Duluth-based ZMC Hotels, the City of Hibbing and the IRRRB.
Plans call for the former Ogle’s Family Foods store, which has sat vacant near the Irongate Plaza since 2001, to be demolished in December to make way for an 80-room, three-story hotel. Construction would begin in May 2014 and the new Hampton Inn & Suites would open in early 2015, employing approximately 20.
The next step is for the City Council and Hibbing Economic Development Authority to approve the development agreements. The City of Hibbing and IRRRB would provide assistance in the form of tax increment financing and grants to demolish the former grocery store, perform soil correction work and add utilities and other infrastructure to bring the project to fruition.
The Ogle’s site had drawn interest from two other hotel developers in recent years, but neither of those projects proceeded. This time it’s different, said Ken Goldfine, ZMC Hotels’ board chair and CEO.
“There’s a need for additional hotel rooms in Hibbing, and ZMC is committed to building what will be the crown jewel of hotels on the entire Iron Range,” said Goldfine. “We appreciate the hard work of Mayor Rick Cannata, City Administrator Tom Dicklich, City Clerk Pat Garrity and IRRRB Commissioner Tony Sertich to make this exciting development possible. We’re looking forward to getting underway once the approvals are finalized, and hope to break ground yet this year.”
ZMC Hotels, which was founded in Duluth in the early 1970s by Monnie and Erwin Goldfine, operates 29 hotels in ten states, employing approximately 1,200. The company’s nearby hotels include the Edge Hotel and Waterpark, the Inn on Lake Superior and the Best Western Downtown, all in Duluth, and the Best Western Bridgeview, in Superior, Wisconsin. The company’s web address is www.zmchotels.com.
I would be very happy to see a new motel in Hibbing as we visit the area frequently. we have family living in Hibbing and must travel 5 hours one way on our visits so nice soft place to fall would be super! I hope the plans go through and construction starts immediately there after! Deb Riley
I would be great if it is ready for the All Class Reunion. Many of us no longer have family to stay with.
I have stayed at the Park Hotel but was not pleased with the accomodations.