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Belmont Avenue home to new Comfort Suites
hotel set to open by august on Belmont avenue
By Kalea Hall
LIBERTY
The dream a local developer had to build a hotel on Belmont Avenue steadily is becoming a reality.
The $7-million project to build the three-floor, 86-room Comfort Suites off Belmont in Liberty is expected to be complete by August, if not earlier.
“It looks so beautiful now,” said Dr. V.C. Perni, developer of the project. “We have more ideas for the future.”
The hotel still is filled with construction workers hustling to complete the nearly 54,000-square-foot hotel on the 2.5 acre site that not very long ago was a Ramada Inn.
Perni, a Liberty resident for more than 40 years, watched that inn thrive and later close. He then saw the property become an eyesore in the township, and he wanted to do
something about it. So in 2007, he bought it for $1.2 million, according to Vindicator archives.
Eight years later — after investing time and resources to rid the Ramada of asbestos, demolish it and develop a plan — the Comfort Suites is coming together.
One plan Perni and investors have is to develop a conference center next to the hotel.
The Choice Brands Comfort Suites in Liberty is managed by Radius Hospitality of Canton.
“[Dr. V.C. Perni] wanted to develop this for Liberty,” said Mike Moliterno, general manager of Radius Hospitality’s Boardman Holiday Inn. “It’s going to be a good thing.”
The hotel lobby feattures a ceiling that is 181/2 feet high.
On the first floor, there’s a business area, conference space, complimentary breakfast buffet area and a fitness center with a view to the pool.
Three of the 86 rooms are deluxe suites that include a two-person jacuzzi, a kitchen area, separate sleeping area, business area and other features.
Three other rooms are considered secondary suites that are smaller than the deluxe, but larger than the basic suites.
All of the basic suites are identical except for the various bed options of a king or two beds. Each room has a sectional sofa that pulls out to become a two-person bed.
B&B Contractors and Developers Inc. of Salt Springs Road in Youngstown is the general contractor on the project.
Reservations for the hotel go live online Aug. 15.
“We are hoping to move that up,” Ryan said.
About 25 part-time and full-time employees will be hired for the Comfort Suites.
As for the conference center, the plan for that should move quickly once the hotel is complete.
“The conference center and the hotel are in a good location between Youngstown and Warren,” Ryan said.
Stephanie Sferra, director of the Trumbull County Tourism Board, said the hotel and conference center will provide another outlet for her to offer to potential tourists.
“It’s a win-win for the hotel brand; it is a win-win for Belmont Avenue, and it is a win-win for the visitors,” she said.
Opening prices will be $129 to $139. The prices, Ryan said, will fluctuate with demand and seasonality.