The Best Western Hotel on Washington Street East is now operating as a Motel 6.
That hotel and the neighboring Charleston Capital Hotel are now owned and managed by California-based CRU Real Estate Group, which is in the process of renovating and rebranding both properties.
The company planned from the beginning to rebrand Charleston Capital into a Wyndham Gardens.
"When we looked at both assets collectively, we [didn't] think Best Western was the right brand for that marketplace," said Steven Senft, a principal with CRU Real Estate.
They decided to pursue a dual brand between Motel 6 and Studio 6, which offers extended stay rooms.
"It was finalized at the end of last month," Senft said. "It was a very quick conversion."
The top two floors of the nine-story hotel will be extended stay studios, offering mini-fridges, a range and kitchenette, Senft said.
"The [local] market itself really needs more extended stay opportunities...there's really only one option in town that can accommodate that right now," he said.
Forty of the hotel's 156 rooms are expected to become extended-stay studios, but "we might do more than that."
The rest will remain standard guest rooms, he said.
Senft said he thinks Motel 6 "is doing a great job of updating their image...having the four-star Wyndham next to it will be nice."
Jama Jarrett, vice-president of communications and operations at the Charleston Visitor Center and Convention Bureau, said she's looking forward to seeing the updated properties.
"It's going to be beneficial to the Clay Center when they have people coming in for shows and concerts, so that's going to be a plus," she said.
Reach Elaina Sauber at elaina.sauber@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-3051 or follow @ElainaSauber on Twitter.