In fact, guests at the extended stay hotel can enjoy a taste of numerous quintessential St. Louis products.  In an effort to give guests a real taste of St. Louis during their stay, the hotel’s Suite Shop offers Schlafly beer, Bissinger’s chocolates, Dad’s Scotch Oatmeal Cookies, Ted Drewes frozen custard, Switzer’s licorice, Lucia’s toasted ravioli, and of course, several flavors of Fitz’s.  Gooey butter cake is a mainstay on the hotel’s complimentary breakfast buffet, and if guests discover a new favorite treat, they can even have it shipped home.  

“Most of the guests who stay in our hotel, whether on business or for personal reasons, are here for more than a night or two,” explained Michael Mullenix, chairman and CEO of Equis Hospitality Management.  “We have all the amenities that people expect in a first-class hotel, but what we really wanted to do was make them feel at home…give them an authentic St. Louis experience.  Gooey butter cake, toasted ravioli, Ted Drewes, Fitz’s – we’ve taken all the quintessential St. Louis products and put them under one roof.”

The $26 million dollar project was completed in June and opened earlier this month.  The ten story hotel has 158 studio, one and two bedroom suites featuring “Sweet Dreams” beds with down duvets, 37-inch flat-screen TVs, well-stocked kitchens and Neutrogena bath products.  On the main level, there is a 1,400 square-foot fitness center with a personal trainer available during key hours of the day (important given the aforementioned sweet treats!), as well as an indoor pool and hot tub.  Business travelers will appreciate the private meeting room, business center and complimentary wireless and hard-wired internet service.  As with all Homewood Suites hotels, guests can enjoy complimentary Suite Start breakfast and a Welcome Home happy hour buffet.  Additional services include on-site laundry, personal grocery shopping and free shuttle rides within a 3-mile radius.

The location of the hotel – at the highly trafficked intersection of Clayton and Brentwood, and just seconds from Highways 40/64 and 170 and MetroLink – makes it a very attractive location for both business and leisure travelers.  The ownership group estimates that approximately 60% of its business will be corporate.  On the personal or leisure side, they anticipate usage ranging from temporary housing, to wedding and bar/bat mitzvah room blocks, to nearby residents using it as a virtual guest room for out-of-town family and friends.   

“Once Highway 40 reopens later this year, we will be just 10 minutes from downtown,” remarked John Kudla, general manager.  “In the meantime, we have great restaurants, shopping, movies, even antique stores all within walking distance.”

Equis is joined on this project (and others) by joint venture capital partner, RockBridge Capital, LLC out of Columbus, Ohio.  Formerly Mullenix Cos., Equis Hospitality Management, LLC is the new name of an experienced hotel management company whose talented executive team has collectively developed more than 20 branded hotels in Missouri, Indiana and Wisconsin.   The Homewood Suites St. Louis – Galleria is their latest project.  Additionally, EQUIS Hotels have been recipients of industry awards of excellence such as Opening Hotel of the Year for Marriott International, Inc. and Development of the Year for Hilton Hotels.    

Homewood Suites is part of the Hilton family of hotels.  Additional information is available at www.homewoodsuites.com.