A West Virginia developer started construction this month on a new Microtel Inn and Suites in Steubenville near University Boulevard.


The hotel will sit where the old All-American Lanes bowling alley building used to be. According to property owner Dominic Teramana of Teramana Enterprises, it will be a four-story building with 84 rooms.

Teramana said hotel developers showed interest in the area and the potential of being by the Ohio River.

"We knew what a great overlook it had of the river and the Veterans Memorial Bridge," said Teramana.

Developer Bill Williams said Jefferson County is well-positioned with the shale industry and proximity to Pittsburgh, which makes for better business. Williams already built a Microtel in Waynesburg, Penn.

"We know that there's a need right now. For the last couple of years, our hotels have been at capacity," said Teramana. "We really wanted to move quickly on this project so we could get the footing underway and get the project going before the winter season set in."

It's only one part of an elaborate plan for the area.

"We have two restaurant sites in addition to the hotel. One of them, we're hoping to get something like a sports bar-type atmosphere in, and one of them we're hoping to get a restaurant-type facility, something like IHOP."

Teramana said they are working with Franciscan University to develop University Boulevard, a main artery in the city.