Monroe Hotel To Close For Rebuilding

MONROE, La. (AP) — Joseph and Eddie Hakim plan to close the Atrium hotel and the Brandy House restaurant in July with plans to demolish the property and build a new convention-focused hotel in its place by 2015.

The News-Star reports (http://tnsne.ws/LFAjkk) the brothers bought the Louisville Avenue hotel for $1 million in 2003 and have operated it ever since.

But Joseph Hakim said piecemeal renovation became impractical and inconvenient for guests.

"It's just really impossible to do the kind of renovations we want to do while still operating the business," said Hakim. He said the last business day for the hotel and restaurant will be July 7.

The property includes several different buildings. The only ones that will survive demolition will be the Brandy House restaurant and interior suites inside the atrium for which the hotel is named. The suites were renovated recently.

Hakim said the new hotel will include three grand ballrooms and extensive meeting facilities for conventions.

Hakim said the capital investment will be considerable, although the total investment won't be determined until design plans are completed.

He said demolition will begin within three months.

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Information from: The News-Star, http://www.thenewsstar.com