Old hotel to be transformed into 'Den' for future students

The Lions Den, formerly the University Inn on highway 50 at the edge of Commerce, is changing not only the name and management, but also the business plan of the hotel to something new to the town.

Director of Operations Bart Jetton told The East Texan that the Lions Den will be focusing on becoming a quality, long term lodging facility for students of Texas A&M University-Commerce.

"When we bought it we shut it down so we could figure out what to do with it," Jetton said. "Our company also owns Holiday Inn Express and we did not want it to compete with that property so when we reopen we want to make it more of an extended stay lodging facility. We did a little research and found that there is not enough quality housing for the school, so we are taking it a step further and making it more of a student lodging facility; thus the name Lions Den. We are moving away from the overnight, transient hotel business that can be handled in town and basically leaning towards our goal of being 100% occupied by Texas A&M students by summer or fall."

The facility is currently under construction but is already taking reservations for next semester and offering site tours to interested students.

"It is a great concept because you do not have to pay a deposit, you are renting a room for a week or month, and after a month you become a resident," Jetton said. "By doing this we are kind of a hotel for the school."

The Lions Den will offer residents amenities a hotel would offer –such as maid service twice-a-week and Wi-Fi – but also catering to the long term residents with things like a coin-operated laundry room, a coffeehouse, a restaurant, billiards room, a concert hall for live music and a pool. However, they have decided to remove the bar that used to be in the facility to accommodate the coffeehouse.

"We have gutted the bar and turned it into the coffeehouse," Jetton said. "It is no longer going to be a drinking facility or bar and the reason for that is if we are going to be a residential facility for students then you really do not want to promote drinking per say. It is not a matter of promoting it or not but if your parents are paying for the room I doubt they will put you in a place where there is a bar."

Other improvements the management plans on adding include a couple of sand volleyball courts, a sports area with a basketball goal, darts and a lounge area in the front of the building.

"Our management is very proactive to what the residents and student life want," Jetton said. "If we see there is a need or want for a bar or something then we might look at getting a beer and wine license or we might just be a BYOB."

The management have not decided between a steakhouse or a Mexican restaurant but plan on potentially including that restaurant in a meal plan for residents. They are also keeping a flexible attitude to find out what their residents will be wanting, saying that there be things like hookah rentals in the coffeehouse and live bands and karaoke nights in the concert hall.

"We do not want to brand it just one thing we do not to brand it just a music venue or a coffee house or Starbucks, we want it to be casual and comfortable," Jetton said. "So it'll be the Coffeehouse at the Lions Den where literally when you walk in you see our overstuffed chairs and there are couches. You can get some coffee and all the amenities are there for you to crank up you laptop and study, work or just enjoy yourself."

Keeping with a locally minded theme they will also be looking for local bakeries to provide the pastries in the coffeehouse. Rooms will come fully furnished with a mini-fridge, a microwave, private bathrooms, and trash service as well as the housekeeping service.

"We think it is going to be great, it is actually going to be something totally unique for the area," Jetton said. "You could kind of consider it private dorms in a sense."