$7.5 million hotel, restaurant under construction

    PONTOON BEACH — Ground has been broken along Interstate 270 on a new $7.5 million hotel and restaurant.
    The developer, Larry Manns Properties of East Alton, said the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott is being constructed at 270 Commerce Park, southwest of the intersection of Illinois Route 111 and Interstate 270.
    The three-story, approximately 80-room hotel will include a business center with a 1,500-square-foot conference facility, exercise room and indoor pool and spa. Manns told the Illinois Business Journal the development will include a 6,000-square-foot free-standing restaurant and bar.
    The builder and owner of the project is Sam and Shree Corp. of Sunset Hill, Mo., which purchased the property from Manns. The company has developed, built and owned 15 hotels in Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky. The principal of Sam and Shree is Sam Patel, who is active with other family members.
    Construction is expected to take approximately five months.
    Larry Manns Properties still has almost 80 acres to develop in the 100-acre 270 Commerce Park where four other projects have been built, among them a Taco Bell restaurant and a gas station/convenience store.
    Manns also is the developer and owner of Bel-Air Commerce Park, at Chain of Rocks Road and Route 111, north of the Interstate 270 interchange in Pontoon Beach.
    The hotel is a new proto-model design, GEN 4, which targets “sophisticated business travelers,” Manns said.
    Ground was broken Oct. 11 with a number of people present, including Manns, Sam Patel and several village officials, including Mayor Michael Pagano and Economic Development Director Ben Motil.