Springhill Suites By Marriott Opens Next Year In Joliet

JOLIET, IL — Thousands of people who live around Joliet may not realize it, but downtown Joliet is turning into one of the busier hubs for commercial construction in Will County. The new 10-story $215 million Will County Courthouse is set to open a year from now. Barely a block up the street, there's now a flurry of construction activity at the previously empty Barrett's Hardware Store. Springhill Suites By Marriott is converting the four-story brick building into an 82-suite hotel that is set to open less than one year from now.

Joliet's new Marriott downtown hotel will also feature 2,000-square-feet of space for meetings space and event conferences. There will be a full-service restaurant and lounge named after Barrett's, the hardware store on North Ottawa Street for decades, until downtown Joliet's business district died off during the 1980s when many of the retail stores moved to the Louis Joliet Mall and the former Jefferson Square Mall along West Jefferson Street.

Nowadays, downtown Joliet is on the comeback trail and several investment partners are taking notice and acquiring property for redevelopment purposes.

Back in January, Joliet Patch interviewed Mike Patel, the owner of four Joliet hotel properties including the Best Western near the Louis Joliet Mall. In late 2018, Patel purchased the empty Barrett's property in downtown Joliet.

Throughout the summer, building contractors were busy gutting the interior of the Barrett's building. Marketing banners are now draped on the front and back sides of the property alerting people that the Springhill Suites By Marriott will be "Opening Summer 2020."

City of Joliet economic development specialist Derek Conley told Joliet Patch on Wednesday: "We're in contact with the developer and we're working with him."

Conley said the Springhill Suites By Marriott stands to be another positive addition for the city's downtown.

He envisions it will draw a lot of overflow traffic from the Harrah's Casino & Hotel, which is less than a block away.

In all likelihood, a number of out of town guests who are frequenting Harrah's Casino will choose to stay at the new Marriott as will people coming to downtown Joliet's Rialto Square Theatre or the historic Union Station for events such as wedding receptions, Conley said.

Additionally, "Marriott's has a very good loyalty program," Conley said.

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