As Gilroy grows so does tourism to the Garlic Capital and when visitors arrive, they need someplace to stay. To accommodate that Ace Construction and Blue Diamond Hospitality are building a Hampton Inn at Travel Park Circle near the Garlic Farm Travel Center and Highway 101.
Sitting on 1.51 acres of land near the off and on ramps of 101, The Hampton Inn will be a four-story, 100 room, mid-priced hotel that will be a significant addition to the existing 736 hotel rooms currently in Gilroy. The site, which now stands vacant, will bolster Gilroy’s reputation as an affordable place to stay while in Silicon Valley.
“We’re considered budget friendly and that’s one of our message points when we’re out there promoting Gilroy,’ said Jane Howard, Executive Director of the Gilroy Welcome Center. “It’s a great place to stay overnight.”
With tourism peaking in the summer and spring, the hotel will also bring in additional tax and consumer dollars along with more shoppers at the Gilroy Premium Outlets and a place to rest one’s head after an extensive tour of Gilroy’s wineries. The new hotel has been overdue and is expected to be complete in late July or mid August 2018.
“It’s been 14 to 15 months since Gilroy has had a new hotel, so it doesn’t surprise me that we’re getting another one,” Howard said. “The location near Highway 101 makes a lot of sense, so I think it’s definitely time.”
The parcel of land, owned by Karamjit Singh Nijjar and Rajinder Kaur Nijjar, was assessed at $649,590 according to the Office of the Assessor of Santa Clara County. The land is devoid of any structures, fixtures, improvements or personal property. The property owners felt there was a good business opportunity in Gilroy.
“They have all old hotels there and this is the only newer hotel in the area,” Karamjit Singh Nijjar said. “The Hilton Garden is 18 years old and the other one is 22 years old. Nothing is newer there.
Across the street on the bend of Travel Park Circle, a crumbling parking lot, intermittently populated by semi trucks, weathered RVs and a six-foot-high stack of garbage and debris has a stench. On the parcel’s south end stands the shuttered Jeffrey’s restaurant, which they have plans to remodel as well.
“Once we complete [the hotel] then we can start to remodel Jeffrey’s and we’ll open a restaurant too,” said Karamjit Singh Nijjar, who sees Gilroy as a hub of local tourism. “Some visitors are coming in from the Monterey and Hollister area and overflow from Silicon Valley. It’s a central area for Monterey and Santa Cruz. Many other areas that are very expensive.”
Karamjit Singh Nijjar and Rajinder Kaur Nijjar, a husband and wife team, started Blue Diamond Hospitality in 2013, the same year they bought property in Gilroy.
Moving on Inn
