A Super 8 fit for a king

The Kings Inn — the motel on Routes 1&9 South with the distinctive tower that once appeared in a popular early ’90s rap video (look for it at about 1:26 of 4:26) — will become a Super 8 and part of the Wyndham hotel chain after renovations and an addition.

Preliminary plans presented before the Redevelopment Agency at its April 9 meeting indicated the structure would be renovated to hold 44 rooms — eight fewer than the current 52 — with a four-story addition that would include another 43 rooms (for total of 87), along with an area connecting the two. The tower will not remain.

Diversified Communities, developers of the adjacent Riverwalk townhouses, had been in discussions to build another 36 to 40 units on the motel property, but those plans eventually proved too costly because of environmental issues.

The Kings Inn, which was raided by police about a year ago (.pdf), is among a number of typical Route 1 motels getting a makeover or replaced altogether. The Best Western on Paterson Street was built a few years ago, and a new Sleep Inn (.pdf) is planned on the adjacent vacant lot which used to be home to the Village Inn.

Thanks to The Contrarian for info on the Kings Inn’s music video history, and some more links to other police activity at the motel.

Facebook Comments

0 thoughts on “A Super 8 fit for a king”

  1. It’s great to hear that dump is going to be cleaned up but how many econo motel’s can there be on route 1/9? Who stays in them anyway-people visiting the prison?The town needs to attract something better.A good highway would leave a better impressio of the city.

  2. Actually, the hotels are used by plenty of airline employees (pilots, flight attendants, etc.) working out of EWR who need a “crash pad.”The Star-Ledger wrote a piece on this a few years back.I also guess that if there wasn’t a need, these new hotels wouldn’t be built, but that answer is too easy 😉

  3. If you build a crackhouse I’m sure you’d find people that would “need” that too. These places are dumps and attract undesirable folk and need to be replaced. I don’t know when that article you mention was written but with all the available hotels in the area I have a hard time believing those are used by airline pilots.

  4. I’d have to agree with the previous comment. I really can’t see airline pilots coming this far down from the airport to stay in any of these dumps. My wife and I have also wondered how these smaller motels and inns stayed in business. I always connected it with truckers.

  5. Sorry…I should have been more clear. Airline employees are looking to stay in the NEWER motels along Rt. 1, NOT the old fleabags like the King’s Inn. I would guess that the King’s Inn would be the choice for discriminating junkies everywhere 😉

  6. Your surprised Alexis has a wife? Rahway isnt as straight laced as one would think! Look at our former gov. Mcgreevy….except he moved to a fabulous mansion in Plainfied. I went on a house tour there many years ago and the place he moved into was on it. Wow is he livin the good life now!!!!

  7. WOW!!!!!!!!Actually I am a GUY (100%). Yes I do have a girls name but I was born in Puerto Rico and at the time Alexis was a popular boys name. Mostly all of the people I know in my culture named Alexis are guys (and my culture I mean Puerto Rican not the general Spanish population). It’s just now in the US Alexis has become a popular girls name. So sorry for the confusion everyone.

  8. Hey i heard that they will be making redevelopments where the Michelino’s, Kennedy Jewelers, and Mango’s Grill are situated. If anyone has info please share or hopefully Mark will give us some insights.

  9. Sorry alexis no malace intended,in fact a good friend of mine from Santa Domingo is named Alex but I don’t know the correct spelling to be honest..

  10. Oh I never take offense. The mistake has led to nice opportunities. Especially when I was an undergrad and they placed me a girls dorm. Yeah…those were the days.

  11. Anything is an improvement over that crackden. I wonder when they’ll finally finish the Essex Street Riverfront Park?

  12. funny you mention the corner property near Mango’s…word was a while back that that was the location for a 2nd ‘Tower” for the downtown area. not as tall though, only 13 stories. Talk about shielding out the sun.

Leave a Reply