The Inn at Reading is closed while it waits to be sold, according to an employee of the Wyomissing hotel and event venue.
A notice of business closure placed at the inn states that all guests had to leave the property by March 12.
The notice states, “Anyone remaining will be taken away as a trespasser.”
By Tuesday night, only a few stray vehicles, including a U-Haul and a handful of cargo vans, were left in the expansive parking lot of the property.
An employee, who chose to remain anonymous, mentioned that the facility’s approximately 15 employees would not be returning to work after March 12.
The employee mentioned that the hotel had 15 to 20 long-term residents.
Wyomissing Mayor Fred Levering mentioned that the deal between the current owners and the new buyer is set to be completed on Friday.
He mentioned that the new owner, whose identity he did not reveal, has initial plans to create a multi-use site, potentially containing office and retail space.
“My understanding is the new buyer plans to carry out some demolition and construct a couple of multistory buildings,” Levering said. “We (the borough) are eager to receive a proposal, but at this point we do not have one.”
Levering mentioned that he was unsure whether any part of the site would continue as a hotel.
“I don’t know whether another hotel is part of the plan or not,” Levering said. “I am not sure about their plan.”
He mentioned that the borough is excited about the new development, as the Inn at Reading property has been a concern for the borough for years.
“The Inn at Reading as it exists is really an outdated building,” Levering said. “In its prime, it was the finest hotel in Berks County. But it has deteriorated, it’s not what it used to be. It’s time to transform it.”
Levering remarked that the new developer has a history in the borough.
“We believe it’s a reputable developer who will do a good job transitioning the (property) into its next phase,” Levering said. “It’s truly a positive development.”
The property originally opened as the Reading Motor Inn. An online listing by travelweekly.com states the inn was built in 1962, and has been in operation since the 1960s according to a post on the Berks Nostalgia Facebook page.
Its name was later changed to the Inn at Reading.
A request for comments from the owners of the Inn at Reading was not returned.
County property records indicate that the 10.8-acre property was last sold in February 2018 to JSK Reading LLC for $6 million.
