EATON — A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Cobblestone Hotel in Eaton marked the culmination of years of planning and collaboration last week.

Local officials, hotel investors and Cobblestone Hotel representatives celebrated the groundbreaking at the site on Washington-Jackson Road on Tuesday, Aug. 20.

City Manager Brad Collins welcomed those in attendance.

“As we stand here today, ready to break ground on this exciting new project, we’re reminded that some of the best things in life take time,” Collins said. “The journey to this moment has been filled with anticipation, but it’s clear that good things truly do come to those who wait. This project’s been a long time in the making. Today marks the culmination of years of discussions, planning and hard work, so we want to extend our deepest thank you to the investors whose perseverance, dedication and commitment have brought us all to this moment. So, thank you guys.

He continued, “For years, we’ve heard countless remarks about the need for a quality hotel here in Eaton. So today, we are thrilled to see that that need is being met. A special thanks to Janice (Tata) and the whole Cobblestone team for helping us recognize this demand, and your continued support in making this vision a reality. This new Cobblestone Hotel will be a tremendous asset to our community. Whether it’s accommodating business travelers from out of town, guests for special events or visiting family members for weddings, funerals or graduations, this hotel will fill a vital role in our town. More than just a place to stay, it’s a key step forward in enhancing the quality of life here in Eaton.”

“What a great day to be an Eatonian,” Vice Mayor David Kirsch followed Collins. “Can you believe this day? I had to pinch myself this morning that it’s finally here. Ladies and gentlemen, today marks a monumental moment in our city’s history as we break ground on the Cobblestone Hotel.

“This hotel is more than just a new building,” Kirsch noted. “It is a testament to our commitment to fostering economic growth and enhancing the hospitality landscape of Eaton. As a key addition to our community, the Cobblestone Hotel will play a crucial role in supporting our local tourism industry by providing comfortable accommodations for visitors who come to explore the rich history and charm of Eaton and Preble County. Additionally, it will serve as a welcoming retreat for the visiting executives of our large employers, reinforcing our city’s reputation as a prime location for both business and leisure.

“This groundbreaking ceremony represents the realization of a long-held dream for many in our community; the vision of a modern quality hotel in Eaton has been in the hearts and minds of our leaders and our citizens for years, and today, we are seeing that vision coming to life,” Kirsch continued. “This project is not just a symbol of progress, but also of the collaboration and determination that defines our city. We look forward to the Cobblestone Hotel becoming a cornerstone of our local economy, creating jobs, attracting visitors, and contributing to the vibrant future of Eaton. In closing, on behalf of staff, the mayor of Eaton and Eaton City Council, I would like to say thank you. Thank you to everyone who has worked tirelessly to make this day possible.”

“It’s a great group of investors, a great group of people and we’re finally here,” signing member of the investors’ Eaton Hospitality Group LLC Harold Niehaus said, before asking the investors if any of them had any thing to share.

“I’ve never got up and spoke at one of these before, so this is something special,” Curt Brennan, the sole non-Preble County investor, who is from Pennsylvania, noted. “But I just wanted to extend my deepest thanks to (City Manager) Brad Collins for such a warm welcome and for making my first impression of this city truly memorable. Your hospitality and passion speak volumes about the spirit of this community.

“To my fellow investors, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to join this remarkable project and for you, all of you, warmly accepting me as the sole outside investor,” Brennan continued. “Your hard work and dedication have been evident, and it is your tireless efforts that have brought this vision to life. Of all my hotel investments, I’ve invested the most in this project because I genuinely, genuinely believe in the upward trajectory of this community. In a time when many communities are facing decline, you should be incredibly proud of the revitalization you’ve achieved together through your talents, passions and teamwork. Thank you again for welcoming me in. I look forward to our continued collaboration and your city’s continued growth.”

“I’m glad to be here,” Niehaus added. “I’m glad that we’ve made it where we’re at. It’s going to be a great site. It’s going to do everything that Vice Mayor Kirsch said, as far as bringing people in and allowing for families to welcome their family members from afar and have a nice place to stay. It’s really, really, exciting, what it’s going to do for this community.”

“Nobody has wanted to say this yet, but the date was 2015, and I’m not terribly good at math, but that’s almost a decade that we’ve been at this hotel project,” Preble County Development Partnership Economic Development Director Justin Sommer said. “The Preble County Development Partnership did a feasibility study back in 2015 that identified what the need was in this community. You know, I wish that investors and developers would just take my word for it that these projects are going to work, but none of them do that. There was a lot of work that had to go into justifying that investment and proving those numbers out, that we could support an investment of this type, and now we’re at that point. So, it’s it is a very exciting day in my world.

“We always say that economic development is a team sport,” Sommer continued. “This project is an example of that. We’re called the Preble County Development Partnership because it takes a partnership to make these things happen. The trust that we have developed between the different stakeholders that are involved in this project, from the community, from the city administration to the property owners, to the investors, to the developers, to those families that are going to be spending time with their loved ones in this building, that doesn’t happen without those strong relationships and the partnerships that we’ve developed over the years. The banking institutions that we’re able to pick up the phone and make a call and say, ‘Hey, we got an idea.’ And they always say no, but we say ‘no, it’s a really good idea.’ And finally, we get to a point where we’re at today, when we’re able to break ground on a great project for the community. So, thank you all for your support of this project in one way or another, and we look forward to what’s to come.”

Cobblestone Co-owner and President of BriMark builders, Jeremy Griesbach said the company was excited to be in Eaton. “This will be Cobblestone number five in Ohio. We’re at 168 hotels open or under construction now, in 28 states. Our footprint is definitely spreading, and we’re excited to fill in Ohio, and hopefully someday we’ll have 20, 30, 40, properties here,” he said. “We’re very excited to be here and be part of this great project.”

Dean Weinert, President of Mutual Federal bank based in Sidney, spoke on behalf of the financial partners in the project which include Mutual Federal, Somerville Bank and Twin Valley Bank. “We’re very excited to be here and be part of this great project,” he said.

“I think this shows what community banking is all about. We’re all in this together. We think this is a great project for the community, and we’re just thrilled both banks joined us and formed a triangle of banks to put this together,” Weinert said of Somerville and Twin Valley. “And we’re all just delighted to be a part of this. I think overall, this project is going to be very successful.”

“I’ve come to know Janice and the Cobblestone people pretty well, they’re the right group to do this,” he continued. “I looked at some of their other projects in small towns like Eaton, which is typically what Cobblestone does, compared to the urban hotels and motels on interstates. What a great location. This is going to be a terrific project. So many people have helped — I’m not going to thank everybody, because everybody’s done enough thanking, but this is really an exciting day for Eaton, for Preble County. Couldn’t be a better way to celebrate it with the good weather. Congratulations, everybody that helped put this together. This is going to be a great investment for the community.”

City and local officials, and members of the Eaton Hospitality Group concluded the event with ceremonial groundbreaking.

Officials said the construction project would be an estimated 14–18-month process. A grand opening celebration will be announced once the hotel is set to open. For more information about Cobblestone Hotels, visit www.staycobblestone.com.

Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.