(Press Workers Photograph by C.P. Thompson)
Steve Aragon works on the Palace Lodge on Tuesday. Paul Aragon, Steve’s brother, is the brand new proprietor of the resort, previously owned by Nancy Johnson for 30 years.
After three a long time on the Palace Lodge on Broadway in downtown Silver Metropolis, Nancy Johnson stated goodbye to her long-term enterprise late final month, passing possession to Paul Aragon, who has been within the resort enterprise practically all his life.
In line with the resort’s web site, the constructing dates again to 1882. It as soon as was the Meredith and Ailman financial institution constructing — constructed by the unique proprietor of the Silver Metropolis Museum’s residence and his companion — and the second ground grew to become the Palace Lodge in March 1900, first owned by Max Shutz.
In November 1989, Johnson and her late husband, Cal Thompson, bought the constructing from the Bingaman household, who had been then renting a couple of of the resort rooms as low-income residences. They believed it was an attention-grabbing undertaking, Johnson stated, and had been intrigued with historic preservation, which is why they took on the then-defunct resort.
“We refurbished it throughout our renovations and opened it up for enterprise,” Johnson stated
Johnson stated it took 9 months to refurbish the constructing, and the resort was lastly reopened in July 1990, with assist from the MainStreet Undertaking and New Mexico Historic Preservation Workplace.
Johnson stated that she offered the resort as a result of she needed to spend extra time together with her youngsters and grandchildren.
“I’ve been excited about it for a couple of years,” Johnson stated of her choice to promote. The constructing had been listed on the market with Smith Actual Property.
Paul Aragon stated he visited the neighboring Murray Lodge final June, when he was contemplating the acquisition of that resort. The Murray was bought final November by a partnership led by Silver Metropolis residents Christine Rickman and her husband, Michael Metcalf. Whereas Aragon stated the Murray was an incredible property, it didn’t fairly catch his eye.
“I used to be strolling to dinner from the Murray Lodge, and I simply walked by this door … and I’m going, ‘That’s a resort,’” he stated. “I walked in and I talked to the individual [at the front desk]. I stated, ‘Would this resort occur to be on the market?’”
Paul was put into contact with Johnson, they usually labored on a deal for about 4 months. The deal was closed in late February, stated Steve Aragon, the brand new normal supervisor of the Palace, and Paul’s brother.
Paul stated he was a part of the state’s first hospitality administration faculty at New Mexico Highlands College in Las Vegas whereas he was in faculty, which might have been within the early ’80s. He began investing in inns when he was 22, and later started shopping for properties. Early in his profession, he labored for a corporation known as Regent Accommodations Worldwide, by way of which he labored everywhere in the world.
“I obtained bored with the journey,” Paul stated. “I obtained bored with the company construction, form of, and determined to attempt to begin venturing out alone. So I purchased small properties, principally in New Mexico, and simply developed them.”
Paul at present has two properties — the Palace Lodge and the Sunshine Motel in Las Vegas, N.M. He additionally oversees a property in Rociada, within the mountains between Las Vegas and Taos, which has a golf course, resort, eating places and bars.
“I beloved what [Johnson] did to the resort. The most important change we’re going to make is we’re going to place in heating and cooling” for every room, Paul stated. “We’re going to change into a part of the neighborhood, within the sense that we’re going to be at each significant occasion that helps promote small enterprise in Silver Metropolis.”
Paul stated that each one employees will stay on the Palace Lodge, a lot of whom have been there for a few years. Steve, a former Albuquerque trainer, is “an addition” to the employees. He stated that he has already bought some dryers and different “instruments” for the employees.
“The employees that I’ve is great,” Steve stated. “The employees right here is nice, and we aren’t seeking to do away with anybody.”
Paul stated he’s a believer in small communities.
“I’ve at all times labored with small cities in New Mexico,” he stated. “There’s not lots of people that exit and have a look at Silver Metropolis … or smaller cities as a possibility, and I do. As a result of I feel we are able to have a higher impression in a smaller metropolis than if I went and purchased a resort in the midst of Albuquerque.”
The Palace Lodge is situated at 106 W. Broadway and could be reached at 388-1811. Room charges vary from $64 to $130 per night time, Steve stated. The resort web site is silvercitypalacehotel.com.
— C.P. Thompson
