A Richland mainstay for more than 40 years, the M Hotel will soon offer guests refurbished rooms when its first phase of renovations are completed at the end of this month.

This stage of work includes the hotel’s original 120 rooms surrounding the large, indoor pool at the property on 1515 George Washington Way.

Due to the age of the facility, the rooms required a complete overhaul rather than just a cosmetic update, including replacement of interior wiring within the walls. The M Hotel will debut entirely new furnishings and bathrooms, including carpeting, beds, tubs and TVs. Following this phase, work will begin on the 75 rooms which are part of an adjacent six-story tower.

A stucco finish is already visible to passing drivers as crews rebuild the exterior of the restaurant and lounge. New access ramps, sidewalks, landscaping and a repaved parking lot also are on the way.

It’s a refreshing change following the unexpected shutdown of the property when it was seized by creditors five years ago.

“People were staying here and the bank came in and kicked everyone out,” said Cody Hoyle, assistant general manager for the M Hotel. “People were eating meals in the restaurant and forced to leave. When the new owners came through months later, the plates were still there with rotting food.”

The M Hotel was purchased by investors Sam Bath and Onkaar Dhaliwal, who operate under the name Richland Investment Group Inc.

The businessmen own six hotels in all, three of which are in Kennewick: Super 8 by Wyndham at 626 N. Columbia Center Blvd.; GuestHouse Inn & Suites at 5616 W. Clearwater Ave.; and Kennewick Suites at 321 N. Johnson St.

Hoyle said the M Hotel and Kennewick Suites were part of the same purchase and a remodel is also planned for the Kennewick Suites, an extended stay property just off Clearwater Avenue.

The owners are on track to turn the M Hotel into a Best Western property. Hoyle said the hotel will eventually be renamed the Columbia River Best Western Plus.

The “Plus” designation is part of a number of brands under the Best Western name. Hoyle said this property will be “one step below the highest level,” which is a Best Western Premier. The recent purchase of the Shilo Inn in Richland will result in the property becoming a Best Western SureStay, which is part of the brand’s extended-stay economy class.

Miracle K. Management, or MKM Hotels, of Beaverton, Oregon, bought the Shilo and said it plans a full renovation of the hotel at 50 Comstock St. The company also bought the Shilo Inn at The Dalles at the same time and owns several other hotels in the region.

Hoyle expects rates for the Columbia River Best Western Plus to debut at $70 to $90 a night for a standard room, depending on the bed choice. Discounts will continue to be offered for government contractors.

Hoyle said the property must be completely finished before it receives the Best Western designation.

“A Best Western representative from Arizona comes up every two to three months to check on the progress. We can choose our own fixtures but they have to be from a list of what Best Western offers. We ordered beige outlets and they had to be sent back because Best Western requires white,” he said.

This is the second time in the hotel’s lifespan that the property will have been part of the Best Western chain. After originally opening as a Holiday Inn, it was bought by Best Western, which built the tower addition. The hotel was sold to Clarion and then eventually became the M Hotel.

Construction began in fall 2017, when the first wings were shut down. The restaurant and lounge also were closed at that time to be used as a storage facility for the new furnishings.

“At one point, we had 100 bathtubs stacked in there,” Hoyle said.

Boasting a large indoor pool plus a water slide, the amenity will remain and receive a new liner and cement work. The pool’s liner was stained with chemicals during its bank-owned period and needs to be replaced. A cantina alongside the pool is also being remodeled for use as a kitchen to support on-site parties.

Owners also are looking into bringing back a former poolside game room currently used for wedding ceremonies. The room may be restocked with pool tables and arcade games. An outdoor venue will be added for weddings and parties that will sit right off the indoor pool.

Following the bank seizure and lengthy closure, the hotel fell away from its original prominence and made headlines in early 2017 when Richland police described a “heroin den” operating on the site.

“I’ve been working with Visit Tri-Cities to show what the hotel used to look like (in 1976) and what we’re doing to re-introduce it now,” Hoyle said.

The hotel currently employs 18 people and is expected to triple that when it re-opens.

A building permit for the current remodel of the windows and façade is valued at $62,000. The owners were unavailable to provide an estimated cost of interior upgrades, including furnishings. Work is expected to continue well into next year, with the final renovations targeted for completion at the end of 2019.

“It won’t be a Best Western until the whole facility is done,” Hoyle said.

M Hotel: 1515 George Washington Way; 509-946-4121; mhotelrichland.com.