Ives family to build new hotel in Staples
It took many years of planning and discussions with several potential developers, but a new hotel will be built in Staples in conjunction with re-opening the former Town’s Edge (and T Maxwell’s before that) restaurant in Staples.
The Ives family, led by Mike and Mary Ives, own and operate three hospitality properties in Grand Rapids and Baxter.
“We are looking at an opportunity to revitalize the Town’s Edge restaurant and event center in conjunction with the development of an upscale lodging facility in Staples,” said Mike Ives in a press release announcing their plans, “because we are impressed with the vitality of this community.”
A community meeting will be held Wednesday, June 22, at 5 p.m., at National Joint Powers Alliance (202 12th St. NE), where the Ives family will share their plans and answer questions about the project.
According to their press release, Ives hotels focus on serving both business travelers and family leisure visitors. The Staples Timberlake Hotel will include a pool with a pool party room and an exercise facility. The hotel will feature a breakfast café, guest laundry, small gift store and outdoor patios.
The 52 room hotel will provide extended stay suites, king suites and spa suites in addition to standard rooms.
“Property needed for the development project has been secured,” said Ives. “We have Mike Angland, an architect with the Widseth Smith Nolting firm from Baxter, developing the concept drawings. Several local commercial contractors are reviewing the plans preliminary to bidding the construction project within an aggressive timeline.”
The plan is to break ground this fall, construct the facility over the winter, and open in the spring of 2017.
The Ives family, including Mike, his wife Mary, their son, Burl and his wife Kris, have been working together in customer service, food and beverage, and event center business since 2000. They specialize in weddings, reunions, education seminars and community events.
“Lodging and events work well together and will bring business from neighboring communities” said Burl Ives, “but a restaurant business requires strong local support. It appears that Staples will welcome another dining facility.”
“Operating a lodging facility requires a quality staff dedicated to customer service,” according to Kris Ives, who will be recruiting this staff. “We look forward to meeting candidates for these job opportunities early next spring.”
“Later this month, our family will provide a community presentation on the development of our new Staples Timberlake Hotel where you can visit and ask questions,” said Mary Ives. “Please come to meet us and get a sneak preview of our project goals.”
