Hotel Hi-Ho‘s massive neon sign, a Fairfield landmark on Black Rock Turnpike for more than half a century, is beaming once again thanks to new ownership along with a contemporary makeover to carry the historic hotel through the 21st century.
“It is nearly a brand new hotel,” said Edward Gormbley, co-owner of the hotel along with Clay Fowler of Spinnaker Real Estate Partners.
After the hotel shut down in 2013 following a steady decline into dilapidation, Gormbley, a principal of Workforce Partners real estate firm, said he jumped at the opportunity to renew the property which was a fixture of his youth growing up in Bridgeport.
“I remember driving up route 58 and along the Merritt (Parkway) seeing that red neon Hi-Ho sign ”” it was burned into my brain,” he said. “For me it is a great revitalization story.”
Built in the 1950s, the colonial style building has always been a hotel, according to Edward Percell, who has worked at the hotel in various capacities, including as general manager, since 1976.
During the early decades of its existence the hotel was the only lodging between Stratford and Greenwich until the building of Route 7 and the commercial expansion that followed, Percell said.
“It was a gold mine in the ’70s and ’80s,” he said, taking advantage of its unique location and abundance of corporate travelers.
As someone who has dedicated a lifetime to the business, Percell said the reopening has been like a rebirth.
Both he and Gormbley said the improved hotel has been met with a welcome reception from the public, with a fresh batch of rave reviews on TripAdvisor and local officials and organizations rolling out the red carpet.
The Nov. 20 ribbon cutting was attended by Fairfield First Selectmen Michael Tetreau along with a cadre of community members.
“The Town is so pleased to see this iconic Hotel revitalized,” Tetreau said in a recent statement. “The numerous changes that were made to this landmark will help attract more visitors to our beautiful community that has so much to offer. This ”˜country chic”™ hotel adds a strategic need for our community to have more hotel facilities for visitors who want to stay overnight so they can spend time in Fairfield.”
The hotel, purchased for $4.3 million in 2014, underwent a “soup-to-nuts” renovation including completely modernized rooms with contemporary furnishings and décor. The hotel has a close association with Barcelona restaurant, also at the 4180 Black Rock Turnpike address, which will provide room service.
In addition to concierge services that will facilitate dinner and theater reservations with Fairfield local business, expanded luxury amenities such as a hot tub and spa are possible in the future, said Fritz Chery, director of marketing and sales for the hotel.
The hotel has maintained its 40 room capacity and features a personal touch from Gormbley, who said he enjoys being hands-on with his projects ”” one of the draws to this particular endeavor, he said.
“We have the best linens you can buy, the softest beds you can buy, I literally went and had mattresses custom made. It”™s one of the best night”™s sleeps you”™ve ever had,” he said. “It is a wonderful turnaround story. I do projects like this all the time if I can find them.”
Gormbley and Spinnaker have made somewhat of a pattern of restoring old Fairfield hotels. The pair unveiled the refurbished Fairfield Circle Inn to a similarly warm reception in July 2015.
So far business has been good at the Hi-Ho, but winter can be a slow time for the hotels, Gormbley said.
“We will slow down a little in January and February and continue going gangbusters as the spring starts to sprout,” he said.
Both he and Percell are optimistic the iconic location will remain a fixture in the community, with Percell committed to working at the hotel up until his retirement.
“What we are really selling is a boutique experience in the Connecticut suburbs,” said Gormbley. “It has a historic place in Connecticut”™s memory and frankly, even to this day when people drive down the Merritt they say ”˜I am near the Hi-Ho.”™ It is such a landmark we think it is going to have a special place in people”™s memories. When people think about nostalgic places ”” few places like the Hi-Ho offer that.”
