NE Iowa News

One of the oldest hotels in this part of Iowa has converted its facilities to provide takeout food for residents during the COVID-19 shutdown and its new owners say they are holding their own financially.

"Based on what's happening, I'd say we're doing good," Tatiana Espinosa, owner of The Franklin Hotel told cbs2iowa.com. "Everything's slow like everything else, but the restaurant is still open."

The venerable old Franklin Hotel, built of red brick perched on a corner of this small town at 102 Elkafer St., was built in 1902 and has been a landmark for decades.

Before the pandemic the hotel featured a bar and restaurant. 

"It's amazing, the community of Strawberry Point, I can't express this, it's so warm," Hernando Espinosa said.

The Espinosa family took over the running of the historic hotel a few months ago. They moved to Iowa recently, but now have to adjust to the business closures during the pandemic.

According to the CBS 2 report, the takeout food business is the hotel’s new focus. The Espinosas took advantage of a back alley window to create a makeshift drive-thru window for food orders.

"A lot of people are excited about it and they want us to keep it," Espinosa said. "I think we’ll plan to continue the drive-thru and deliveries will stay for sure.” 

Espinosa added he has applied for federal aid to keep operating, but admits the longer the shut-down lasts, the harder it will get. The family will continue cooking food for takeout and have made plans to fully reopen the restaurant, but might have to cut some services in a month’s time if conditions do not change.