Country Inn Opens In May

GRAND RAPIDS — The much anticipated Country Inn & Suites Grand Rapids East hotel opens May 24 at I-96 and the East Beltline on a site that was previously occupied by Duba's Restaurant.

The mid-priced hotel will offer 154 rooms along one of the busiest and fastest-growing stretches in the metro area, just off one of the state's most traveled highways.

"It's being built as a very upscale Country Inn & Suites. We have heated sidewalks all the way around the property. Thirty-two-inch flat screens are going in. It was built with cement construction and granite vanities, with very upscale amenities," said Ed Wilson, general manager of the new hotel.

"It's a real nice property, and we're real excited about it."

The Country Inn & Suites GR East fills a room void on the city's northeast side, which was in need of a hotel between

"We do have meeting facilities. We do have 3,000 square feet of meeting space. So we can do smaller groups. Our largest room seats 80. It's a good size for us, and we will be able to accommodate those meetings where people need guest rooms," said Wilson

The Country Inn & Suites GR East will be the third business to open on the property, joining Northpointe Bank and Uno's Restaurant.

"We like the location so much. It's right off the expressway," said Wilson. "And the East Beltline is, obviously, growing like crazy with all the lifestyle development-type things possible for the East Beltline. So we look to be able to do very well over here."