104-room Marriott hotel to be built in Downtown Sheboygan
Fountain Park Motel and Restaurant will be demolished
SHEBOYGAN — Demolition of the Fountain Park Motel and Restaurant will make way for a new hotel, a rooftop restaurant and distillery.
The City of Sheboygan purchased the restaurant and motel from Jetmir Ameti for $3.2 million last year. While demolition is planned, no date has been set. Rolly Lokre of Plover-based Lokre Companies is proposing a 104-room Marriot Spring Garden Inn hotel consisting of 104 rooms, a rooftop restaurant and a 5,000-square-foot distillery.
According to the Tax Incremental District (TID) Development Agreement between Lokre and the city, he will purchase the property from the city for just $1. Officials anticipate that the project will be worth $14 million once completed. Construction will begin no later than March 2026. In preparation for the building’s demise, workers from Wisconsin Public Service disconnected natural gas service on Thursday.
The city expects the hotel and restaurant to open sometime in 2027. For months, there have been rumors and speculation of apartments being built. As part of the development agreement, the City of Sheboygan will pay $2.8 million to fund construction of the project.
In 1960, plans were announced to demolish the aging 153-room Hotel Foeste and build the $750,000 two-story Fountain Park Motel, which was considered luxury at that time. The motel was considered to be one of the most modern motels in the Midwest when it opened in November 1961. It was built by Quasius Construction and was designed for up to 200 guests.
In basement of the restaurant, WHBL had their offices and studios. The radio station relocated in 1976 when their new 5,000-square-foot building on Washington Avenue was completed. The motel and restaurant has had a number of names over the last six decades. From Fountain Park Inn, Best Western and Fountain Park Motel. Before closing, it was known as Inn of Sheboygan. Regardless of the branding, Sheboyganites have always called it Fountain Park Motel and Restaurant.
Long-time owner Ameti immigrated to the United States in 1982. When he visited Sheboygan in 1987, he enjoyed his visit so much that he sold his Milwaukee restaurant and moved here. In 1992, he opened the restaurant and in 2003, purchased the motel.
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