Rochester Celebrates the Grand Opening of the EVEN Hotel and Staybridge Suites, EKN’s Third and Fourth Hotels serving the Mayo Clinic Area

Rochester Celebrates the Grand Opening of the EVEN Hotel and Staybridge Suites, EKN’s Third and Fourth Hotels serving the Mayo Clinic Area

Congratulations to the EKN team who celebrated in Rochester the grand opening of the EVEN Hotel and Staybridge suites last week with live music, local food, and tons of community enthusiasm. The dual-branded hotels mark EKN Development’s third and fourth offerings in Rochester, a city that’s seen robust growth as the renowned Mayo Clinic continues to expand. Completed ahead of schedule and under budget during the COVID-19 pandemic, the EVEN Hotel and Staybridge Suites are a testament to the expertise of the development team and the resilient city of Rochester during a global crisis. With the dedicated joint efforts of the partnership between EKN Development Group, Napean Capital, Western States Lodging, FFKR Architects, and Weis Construction, we successfully overcame unprecedented obstacles to completing the development.

In 2015, EKN Founder and CEO, Ebbie Khan Nakhjavani, commenced discussions to purchase the property from the Nelsons, owners of a staple Rochester family business, Virgil’s Auto Clinic and Towing. Virgil’s Auto Clinic and Towing was first founded by Virgil Nelson in 1952 and was later bought from him by his five sons who continued to operate the business until they finally sold their property for the construction of the EVEN Hotel and Staybridge Suites. The Nelsons recently visited the EVEN Hotel and Staybridge Suites and were elated with the result. To read more about the history of Virgil’s, check out From Auto Clinic to Hotel: The History of Eleven02.

When the project began in 2015, Ebbie met with the local community to hear about their vision for the neighborhood. They had a common goal: revitalize 11th avenue with storefront retail, improved lighting and walkways, and hotels that would provide much-needed lodging to patients and their families visiting the neighboring Mayo Clinic Campus that sees over one million patients a year.  

Rochester’s Mayor, Kim Norton, spoke to the remarkable evolution of this corner of 11th avenue during her speech at the Grand Opening: “We have watched the transformation of what was an iconic family business for generations here in this community to a new, iconic structure that will serve the patients of Mayo Clinic and visitors to this community for many, many years to come.”

Since opening their doors in May, the EVEN Hotel and Staybridge Suites have given Rochester’s visitors what they needed the most: options. The EVEN is a 132-key, health and fitness-oriented hotel. Guests can use their in-room fitness zones complete with complimentary equipment, or head down to the state-of-the-art fitness studio and indoor pool to get some exercise. Airy outdoor gardens with lounges, pergolas and grills make it easy for guests to get outside. Cork & Kale, the EVEN’s restaurant & market, provides healthy meals and organic alcohol for a fun, guilt-free night out or a quick snack. The EVEN Hotel, much like the growing medical hub in Rochester, encourages guests to put their health first.

The Staybridge Suites cater to long-term visitors looking for spacious, extended-stay lodging. The Staybridge offers 114 residential-style studio, one and two bedroom suites with full kitchens. With on-site guest self-laundry facilities, a fitness center, and a free shuttle to the Mayo Clinic and St. Mary’s Campus, the Staybridge is quickly becoming the preferred accommodations for patients seeking long-term treatment and their loved ones.

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