Support the Timberjay by making a donation.

Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Marjo Motel set to reopen

Deal close on marina acquisition

Marshall Helmberger
Posted 5/10/17

TOWER— The Marjo Motel, located at Tower’s western entrance, should be back in operation by the end of the month, and possibly as early as Memorial Day weekend. That’s according to Orlyn …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Marjo Motel set to reopen

Deal close on marina acquisition

Posted

TOWER— The Marjo Motel, located at Tower’s western entrance, should be back in operation by the end of the month, and possibly as early as Memorial Day weekend. That’s according to Orlyn Kringstad, whose Tower Vision 2025 has been working with former motel operator Tom Mesojedec, to reopen the eight-room lodging facility.

Mesojedec confirmed that the motel is set to reopen as soon as health and fire inspections are completed and the lodging license is back in place.

And it’s not the only positive development that Tower Vision expects to roll out in the coming days. A deal to acquire the Standing Bear Marina, located near Tower’s harbor, has made a major step forward. “We have been in communication with a potential buyer for the marina and are cautiously optimistic that we will be able to see it through to a closing,” said Tower Vision master developer Jeremy Schoenfelder. The identity of the prospective buyer remains confidential until a formal purchase agreement is finalized, but the prospective new owners are expected to make a major investment in upgrading the facility and expanding the services available at the location.

Motel opening

a boost

Kringstad said bringing the motel back to operation will provide significant local benefit. Kringstad said he expects to rent most of the rooms by the week to construction workers currently employed on the Hwy. 169 reconstruction in Eagles Nest Township. He said those workers have had difficulty finding affordable lodging in the area. With those workers staying in town, Kringstad said they will likely patronize local restaurants and other services, providing a broader boost to the local economy.

The potential impact of a marina renovation and expansion are far more significant. Kringstad said the upgrade has long been a critical component of his team’s overall vision and will help make other parts of the project—such as a new resort hotel and additional residential expansion near the harbor— possible.

The new owners are expected to work closely with the Tower Economic Development Authority to assist with the marina redevelopment effort. The marina was included in the city’s recently-established redevelopment district, which will allow the prospective new owners to tap a broader range of funding sources to undertake needed clean-up, repairs, and upgrades to the long-neglected property.