‘We stripped everything down to the studs’: Renovated Quincy hotel set to open Dec. 19

QUINCY — The Heritage Hotel, formerly the Eagle’s Nest, is gearing up for its grand reopening under new ownership this month. With a fresh new look and extensive renovations, the 52-room hotel is set to open its doors on Dec. 19. 

The first and second floors have already been completely transformed, with Aulck and Sandhu planning to expand and add more rooms in the second and third phases of the renovation. There are 52 rooms currently available. In addition to the guest rooms, the hotel will feature a newly designed banquet hall and event space. 

“We stripped everything down to the studs,” general manager Christi Vogel said. “It’s all new drywall, all new flooring, and the bathrooms are completely new.”

Balwant Aulck and Sukhchain Sandhu are listed as the managers of Hotel in Quincy LLC, according to records filed with the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. Their LLC is registered in Springfield. Aulck and Sandhu have worked together in the Seattle area for more than 20 years. Hotel in Quincy LLC bought the 1.25-acre property at 300 Gardner Expressway on May 31, 2023, for $525,000. The previous owner was Q ILL Development LLC. Ted Siebers of Quincy and Dennis Prock of Fort Myers, Fla., were listed as the managers.

Vogel said the renovation goes far beyond surface-level improvements. They have updated rooms to include kitchenettes and suites for people in town on business or a lengthier stay. 

“It is nothing like it was. It’s not just a facelift,” said Vogel. “We really went all out to make the changes, to make this a place everybody wants to stay. There will not be the same problems they had before. We won’t allow it.” 

The Eagle’s Nest was closed in February 2021 after city officials said they received complaints of water and security problems. Many customers were using the hotel as transitional housing until openings at apartments or houses became available.

While the hotel won’t officially open until Dec. 19, Vogel said guests are already booking rooms for the coming months.

“We’ve already got a booking for Tin Dusters, and some rooms are blocked off for a wedding in June,” she said. 

Vogel hopes the hotel will be a welcoming place.

“We want to project a clean, comfortable family atmosphere. We want people to be comfortable with their stay,” Vogel said. “It is nothing like it was.” 

The Heritage Hotel also is creating job opportunities. Vogel shared she is still looking to fill several positions on the front desk staff and in housekeeping. 

Holly Cain, executive director of the Quincy Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the reopening of the Heritage Hotel gives Quincy more than 800 hotel rooms. She said if every room in the hotel is renovated, the Heritage Hotel will be the second largest hotel in town after The Atrium. 

“It really does help with supply and demand issues,” Cain said. “We do have large events in town, and room rates get bumped up due to supply being low. This will hopefully help with that.” 

Cain said she expects events such as Fishing for Freedom, Tin Dusters, and Eagle Days, which typically fill the 12 hotels in Quincy, to take full advantage of the new hotel.