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After nearly 30 years in Akron, Ohio, The Quaker Square Inn's days as a hotel may be numbered. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the inn is made out of 36 Quaker Oats silos from the 1800s. Each silo is 120-feet tall and contains dozens of perfectly-round guest rooms, each with a 24-foot diameter and its own private balcony.
As if that weren't enough Americana, the Trackside Grille off of the lobby is located in a 1930s Pullman train car and carries more than 30 milkshake flavors.
The complex has been owned by Hilton and Crowne Plaza at various times. Recently the inn was bought by the University of Akron, which will likely convert it into a dormitory. Four floors already house students, but a spokesman says the remaining 91 rooms will stay open to non-student guests until November 2009, from $99.
While reviews on TripAdvisor were mixed and visitors say the hotel is showing signs of wear and tear, its design is pretty neat. And as a dorm, it sure beats the Howard Johnson that I lived in when I was a first-year student at Boston University. (My school had run out dorm space, you see, and had rented rooms for us at the local HoJo. The karaoke machine in the common area was a fun perk.)
Have you stayed here? Do you know of any other re-purposed hotels?
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The best thing about the Quaker Square hotel is the Don Drumm artwork on the rounded walls throughout the lobby. The idea of sleeping in a former oat silo is interesting, but the guest rooms are in desparate need of updating.
Posted By Lauren on October 7, 2008, 11:30 PM
Dear Sir/Madam: Do you have psychological ways of whittling down the price asked for that particular night? What are the variables?
I am not suggesting you try this, but this guy(not me) secures a room on the highest floor possible. The next day, he complains about the heating/cooling system fan noise for the building - usually located on the top of the hotel. He starts of with, "I was up all night because of that darn fan noise. I have an important business meeting this morning and I am not in very good shape. How about reducing the room rate by 50%? That is the least you can do for the discomfort I just went through"
Believe it or not. Sometimes he does get a substantial discount on the room - probably because they want to keep good will. Sometimes if he doesn't get anywhere with the flunky at the desk, he demands to see the manager!
In my travels, I have asked for the commercial rate rather than the rack rate. I really think it depends on the person at the desk. Is he a "company man" or is he a humane person?
Posted By Sidney Sward on October 9, 2008, 12:54 PM