Bold statement: St. Cloud’s hotel scene isn’t just a list of places to sleep—it’s a living timeline of the city’s growth, culture, and changing needs. As local historian Jim Grabinski and a reporter explored the metro area, they uncovered how each building tells a story about transportation, entertainment, and community life, from early arrivals to modern renovations.
Germain Breen Motor Motel
The Germain Motor Motel lineage traces back to the Breen Hotel, which opened in 1921 at the corner of 9th Avenue and St. Germain Street. Henry Breen and his wife ran the hotel, and it connected to the Sherman Theater (today’s Paramount). According to Grabinski, the property later became the Germain Motor Motel and remained open until September 1980, when it closed due to fire-code issues. The site has since been renovated and repurposed into Germain Towers, a 60-unit apartment complex that primarily serves older residents.
Central Hotel and Radisson conversion
The history begins with the Central House, opened in the 1880s at 5th Avenue and St. Germain Street. It was replaced in 1898 by the Grand Central Hotel. In the late 1980s, Jim Graves redeveloped the site into a nine-story, 103-room luxury Radisson Hotel. Grabinski recalls the property opening in 1990, then adopting the Le St. Germain Hotel name in 2012. Before Graves’s renovations, the building faced 5th Avenue; today it faces St. Germain Street and sits opposite the Rivers Edge Convention Center. In 2015, Graves sold the property to Courtland by Marriott.
Sunwood Inn & Convention Center
The Sunwood Inn and Convention Center debuted in 1977, built by the Dan Brutger Company with 140 rooms along Highway 23 to provide convenient access to Highway 10 and Interstate 94. By 1992, financial difficulties led to foreclosure, and the property became known as the Best Western Kelly Inn.
Grand Stay Residential Suites
Grand Stay sits at 213 6th Avenue South along Highway 23 in downtown St. Cloud. Grabinski notes that the site once housed a Texaco gas station in the mid-1970s, followed by Klein Oldsmobile Cadillac. The land was cleared in 1999 to make way for the Grand Stay’s opening in 2000.
Holiday Inn & Convention Center
In 1977, Dick and Dean Anderson opened the Holiday Inn and Convention Center at 70 South 37th Avenue. The hotel expanded in 1994 to include 259 rooms, signaling growth and increased capacity for events and travelers.
Royal Court Motel
The Royal Court Motel stood at 720 Highway 10 South. In 2010, the property was renamed the Nights Inn, located just across the highway from the Red Barn Dairy Queen, continuing a tradition of roadside hospitality that evolved with time.
Comfort Inn and Quality Inn evolution
The Comfort Inn opened in 2000 at 4040 2nd Street South in St. Cloud. It rebranded to Quality Inn in 2011, and today the adjacent site houses the House of Pizza and was once home to Old Chicago, reflecting changes in branding and adjacent amenities over the years.
Econo Lodge and Salvation Army conversion
The Econo Lodge once operated at 420 Southeast Highway 10 in St. Cloud and has since been repurposed as part of Salvation Army facilities, illustrating how properties adapt to community needs over time.
AmericInn legacy
AmericInn International was founded in 1989 by Jim Graves of St. Cloud, who partnered with a Wisconsin group that included former Packers player Bart Starr. The concept focused on small towns with populations under 20,000 and led to multiple locations, including two in St. Cloud and one in Sartell. Today, these properties operate under Wyndham Hotels. In 2002, the AmericInn in Cold Spring changed hands and became the Riverside Inn.
This is Part 1 of the conversation. Look for Part 2 coming soon.
If you’d like to listen to my conversation with Jim Grabinski, click below.
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