The Comfort Inn & Suites, located at the top of Kitsap Way in West Bremerton, will be opening its doors sometime this month. The hillside landmark was formerly known as the Bremerton Hotel, and before that it was a Howard Johnson franchise. Some longtime residents may remember that it was constructed by the late Joe Mentor and originally opened as a Holiday Inn in the 1970s.

In the past year and a half, the hotel has undergone a major remodeling, with new ownership and an entirely new look. “From the moment you enter our expansive, elegant lobby, you will know something is different,” said General Manager Brendan Genther.

It was not easy to bring the 70s-era hotel up to current standards, and it cost almost $10 million to do so. “When remodeling a building, it takes a lot just to get it up to code,” Genther said. Complete electrical rewiring, new flooring, new furnishings, a new alarm system, flat screen televisions in every room — and anything else one could imagine in a hotel that Genther refers to as having an “upscale type of feeling” — was added.

Comfort Inn and Suites, a hotel brand of the Choice Hotels Franchise, will follow the chain’s characteristics and will not have a restaurant or a bar, but will serve free breakfast and will have full catering service to all of its guests.

“Service is a part of our culture and taking care of our guests,” Genther said.

The owner of the hotel, Bob Park, noticed the potential of the building and imagined what he could do with it. ” is a visionary who saw property with great opportunity… He saw a challenge,” Genther said.

Not only is Park the owner, he also served as the interior designer, for picking all color palettes and creating a unique piece of art that works as the centerpiece of the lobby.

With over 150 rooms, the new Comfort Inn and Suites will be one of the largest hotels on the Kitsap Peninsula.