Bricktown's Hampton Inn working to beat the buzzer
Opening soon Hotel fully booked for Big 12 basketball tournament

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BY STEVE LACKMEYER

Published: January 9, 2009

Construction continues on the 200-room Bricktown Hampton Inn at 300 E Sheridan. When the Hampton Inn opens later this year, the nine-story building will be the tallest in the entertainment district and will be its second hotel. Photo by Steve Lackmeyer, The Oklahoman

Developers of Bricktown’s Hampton Inn say the hotel will open next month and already is fully booked for the arrival of the Big 12 basketball tournament in March.

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Construction has taken longer than first expected, with the opening originally scheduled for mid-2007. But Jonathan Pitman, whose family developed the hotel along with Raymond Management, said he has no worries about meeting the upcoming deadline.

"We’re about 85 percent complete,” Pitman said. "Right now, we’re working top to bottom. Floors six through eight have furniture ... we’re moving furniture into floors five, four and three, and on the second and first floors we’re doing carpeting and walls.”

Pitman said the housekeeping staff will begin work next week, installing shower curtains in completed rooms, doing set-up and then locking the rooms for the first guests.

"It’s exciting,” Pitman said. "We went a month ago, checked it out, and then went in again two days ago and it’s looking great. The quality is going to be there. Raymond Management, which owns the hotel, has a very specific quality that they go for.”

Pitman said the group is shooting to win the Hampton Inn opening-of-the-year award for the $25 million hotel.

Parking changes

With the opening of the hotel, Bricktown visitors also can expect changes with the adjoining garage owned by Pitman and his father, Marsh Pitman.

Pitman said an elevator will be built between the garage and hotel that will only be accessible to guests with room cards.

The garage will have fewer spaces available for public parking — something Pitman welcomes in light of free parking in nearby Lower Bricktown that has drawn away customers.

Pitman said one of the garage entrances may also be reserved for hotel guests.

Pitman and Bricktown Association Director Jim Cowan say they hope the hotel will spur restaurant and shop openings across the street — a stretch that has traditionally been leased to nightclubs.

"By bringing more rooms, there will be more foot traffic into the district,” Cowan said. "And the fact it doesn’t have a restaurant means the people staying there will use Bricktown restaurants for their food and beverage. I think it will have an unbelievable impact on Crabtown across the street.”

Related Topics: Basketball, Sports, College Basketball, College Athletics