FairField Inn & TownePlace Suites

Jeff Hoffart remembers the glory days of the old Villa Inn that once sat in the southeast corner of the busiest intersection in Norfolk. As a native of the community, he fondly remembers its large pool and the various events that took place at its convention center.

So, when he and son Ryne Hoffart put the final touches on their newly constructed hotel, The Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites by Marriot, which now sits in the same location as the old Villa Inn, they wanted to pay homage to the memorable business that was once a fixture of the community. “The one thing the Villa Inn had was a bar and dance place upstairs that they called the ‘Nebraska Room.’ That was a huge hit for everybody my age and older,” Jeff Hoffart said. “So we chose to name the board room that we have the ‘Nebraska Room.’ ”

The AV-equipped executive board room at the new Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites by Marriot – located in the southeast corner of Omaha Avenue and 13th Street – is just one of the features of the newly built dual-brand hotel that opened in January. The new hotel features 49 Fairfield rooms that vary among king, double queen and executive suites and 41 TownePlace Suites, extended stay units that include fully equipped kitchens and separate sleeping quarters. “Fairfield is going to be for more of your day-to-day traveler, and the extended stay are for longer visits, but there’s no minimum stay for our TownePlace rooms,” Ryne said. “You don’t have to stay with us for a week, but it’s more beneficial to be in these rooms for a longer period of time.”

Plans for the new hotel and extended-stay suites have been in the works since 2019. Ryne said market research suggested a great need for more hotel rooms and extended-stay options to exist in the Norfolk community. As the father and son began looking at brands with which they could partner for the new venture, Marriott presented the idea of creating a dual-brand hotel, a relatively new concept at the time and still a relatively rare option in many Midwestern states, especially for communities the size of Norfolk. “They suggested that maybe this would be a good fit,” Jeff Hoffart said of the dual-brand concept. “And we agreed.” But as the pandemic began – hitting the hospitality industry especially hard – construction on the new hotel was put on hold. In June 2021, construction resumed with dirt work and, while costs of materials rose and supply chain issues created additional challenges, the new 55,140-square-foot hotel finally opened on Jan. 9. “It’s been amazing,” Jeff Hoffart said. “We’ve had our struggles, just like every project along the way, but we’ve also had some amazing people working on this thing.” Despite the challenges they encountered during construction, the Hoffarts said they are pleased with the end result.

Guests are able to access the hotel property from the east- and westbound lanes of Omaha Avenue and from the northbound lane of Highway 81. The new four-story Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites includes a dine-in breakfast area and an outdoor patio that features a fireplace and grill for guests. “The guests – especially the long-term ones, if they want to grill a steak for themselves, they can grill and they can eat out there,” Jeff Hoffart said. An exercise room — featuring a large assortment of cardio machines and free weights — is located on the main floor of the hotel. Across the hall is an indoor pool. In the lobby, a large map of Norfolk illustrates the distances and directions to local attractions.

The “Something Borrowed” program at the hotel allows guests access to a variety of homey comforts like board games, card games and small appliances like Crock Pots and rice cookers, which can be requested at the front desk. “If you want to go grab a roast from Lou’s and bring it back here, you can make it right in your room,” Jeff said. Adjoining rooms also are available for guests who want to stay connected with members of their party. “I see a lot of families taking advantage of this,” Ryne said. The Hoffarts said stays were already booked for the first day and night of business, and groups already have reserved blocks for upcoming events in the summer.

Jeff said it’s satisfying to see the end result of the months and years of challenges and hard work it took to get the Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites built, and he and Ryne agree they would do it again if the opportunity arises.  “It’s really cool to be able to put something back for the city in this location,” he said.

Norfolk Now Magazine: Spring/Summer 2023

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