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Manchester Inn closure an end of era for some, new beginning for others

Historic venue’s next chapter could be as a community college’s branch campus.

Staff photo by Pat Auckerman The Manchester Inn at 1027 Manchester Ave., Middletown.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Jessica Heffner & Rick McCrabb, Staff Writers Updated 5:16 PM Tuesday, January 4, 2011

MIDDLETOWN — For some in Middletown, the closing of the Manchester Inn & Conference Center is the end of the era. For others, it’s a new beginning.

The owners of the hotel, Manchester Enterprises LLC, informed the about 40 staff members of the official closing Monday after 89 years in operation. Officials have called the closing “sad but necessary” as the Manchester Inn moves into a new phase as the possible home of the a new Middletown hospitality program and culinary school by Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.

City officials are still in negotiations on the project and also to acquire the hotel for the school. While City Manager Judy Gilleland said the city will not run the hotel in the interim, she is sure this will not be the final curtain for Middletown’s grand hotel.

“I am confident an agreement will be reached with Cincinnati State,” she said. “We understand that the Manchester Inn is the heart of downtown Middletown. We look forward to its reuse by Cincinnati State and are working as quickly as we can to bring that plan to fruition.”

Cincinnati State plans to restore the hotel to it’s historical grandeur, but how long that will take once a project agreement is reached is unclear. Dan Cayse, vice president of the school’s strategic initiatives & entrepreneurial development, said its estimated the renovations will cost about $6.5 million.

Thomas Billing, who manages the Bob Gray Orchestra that plays monthly dances at the hotel, called the closing sad for the people who held events there and the people who worked for the hotel. He said he hopes Cincinnati State will continue to book events when it takes over and called the Manchester’s ballroom “second to none.”

»Inn could be closed for several months Article on C6

»View a photo gallery of the Manchester Inn MiddletownJournal.com

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