New hotel poised to join South Union skyline
A new hotel is coming to Fayette County.
Comfort Suites, one of 10 hotel franchises that are part of Choice Hotels International of Silver Spring, Md., will be located at the intersection of Route 40 and New Salem Road.
Site work has begun on the 80-room, 4-story Comfort Inn that is being built behind the Sheetz and Bob Evans restaurant in South Union Township.
“The Board of Supervisors has placed a strong emphasis on trying to stimulate economic development to try to create as much growth as possible,” said South Union Township Supervisor Robert Schiffbauer.
Schiffbauer said construction was to begin in March to late spring, but the state permitting process slowed progress. He said the hotel should be completed either by late fall or early spring.
Each suite will measure 12 by 30 feet, or 360 square feet. All the rooms in the new hotel will be suites that include microwave ovens, refrigerators and loveseats that are foldout beds, Schiffbauer said. The hotel will have a swimming pool, fitness center, business center, “grab it and go” breakfast bags for people who have to get rolling early and a small convenience store selling drinks, snacks and toiletries.
Schiffbauer said the hotel should employ 20 to 25 people when completed.
“We support anything that creates jobs, and that’s certainly one thing we need in the county,” he said.
Schiffbauer said the work involved in opening the hotel includes improvements to the intersection of Route 40 and New Salem Road.
“We recognized years ago the importance of infrastructure, so we’ve done what we can to develop the roads,” he said. “That’s where we focused, upgrading and widening the roads. We knew we could have an impact if we developed infrastructure. That’s made the township really attractive for developers. And that success builds on success — synergy. Other businesses like to be located where there is existing development.”