A Cheery Future For The Grim Hotel

The Hotel Grim sits derelict, seemingly forgotten and left to become a shell for ghosts of its past. The eight-story hotel, which sits at 301 North State Line Ave., is a reminder of a bustling downtown Texarkana in the 1920s and 1930s. Rumor has it that Bonnie and Clyde once visited the Grim.

The last time the hotel rented a room was in 1984, and some of the old cards with the names of guests and their room numbers are still strewn on the check-in counter.

“There are still ornate light fixtures, and it is unbelievable how nice it still is after decades of nonuse,” Steve Harrelson said about the hotel that sits across from his law office. “Old-timers told me stories that during prohibition there was a tunnel under State Line Ave. so they could run from one state to another when the revenuers would come.”

There are more than just ghosts moving about in the 250 rooms of the Hotel Grim these days. Along with other downtown revitalization projects, the hotel will also be given a new life with loft-style apartments and retail spaces on the main floor.

“The revitalization of the Hotel Grim would be the crown jewel of a redeveloped downtown Texarkana,” said Harrelson, who has pushed for the renovation of the Grim since moving back to Texarkana in 2002. “A community’s downtown is a reflection of the community itself, and I’m hopeful that a renewed Grim would reflect the pride that exists in our downtown.”

Harrelson, a former Arkansas state legislator, renovated the Foreman building that houses his law offices 10 years ago. He says it is 25 years older than the Grim.

REDEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
In addition to Harrelson’s effort to garner interest for the revitalization, Texarkana resident William B. “Billy” Harrell of Rivergate Properties has hired Jim Sari, CEO of Sari and Company in Austin, Texas, to breathe new life into the 103,200 square-foot hotel that is owned by Rivergate Properties LLC.

Specializing in downtown or community redevelopment projects, Sari said he plans to put his 15 years of revitalization experience into the project and start construction on the hotel in the next six months. Sari said the plan is to have spaces open for rental by the end of 2016 with an estimated $13 million renovation project.

“There will be 70 to 80 loft apartments and retail space on the bottom,” Sari said.

Since he grew up in Texarkana, Harrell said this hotel renovation is a labor of love for him.
“I was very familiar with downtown as a kid. In its heyday, I remember the Grim and the coffee shop there,” Harrell said. “I have always felt like our history is more important than just being discarded. For years I’ve been trying to get this hotel project done.”

Harrell said many contractors build “boxes,” which he said is hardly restoring old property. He said finding people with skills to restore the architecture back to its former glory are hard to find.

“I’ve always felt like we should restore as much of the historical stuff as we can,” Harrell said. “Personally, I’m pleased that we’ve got the momentum going on this project. … It was certainly a place that generated activity for folks in Texarkana. … It’s central to the downtown restoration and redevelopment.”

DISTINCTIVE TOWN
Texarkana USA is a distinctive town because the Arkansas/Texas state line runs directly through the center of downtown.

“Once people visit, they see other unique things about our town,” said Ina McDowell with Main Street Texarkana. “We have two of everything: two mayors, two governing bodies, two states. They both come together in downtown. … Many attempts have been made for development, but this is the first opportunity for something to seemingly happen [with the Grim]. A lot of people are on board with support, and it’s a huge statement in the commitment to the downtown revitalization.”

Another notable building with ongoing restoration in downtown Texarkana is the State Line Post Office and Federal Building, which straddles the state line and has two zip codes. This is the second most photographed courthouse in the country, second only to the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

Texarkana, Texas, Mayor Bob Bruggeman said that even though the town does rest in two states, the governments work well together, especially when it comes to revitalizing the downtown.

“We’ve had an ongoing revitalization through the downtown area,” he said. “We are in two different states and have good success with development in the downtown area. Most recently, Pecan Point, a restaurant and brewery.”

Harrelson said there have been several renovation projects in the last decade, including his building and Silvermoon on Broad, which offers versatile options for meetings, weddings, parties and other occasions.

“There have been other small renovation projects, and as a whole, downtown has more activity currently than it has in many years,” Harrelson said. “One problem that affects downtown Texarkana as far as bringing in cars and tourists: it’s hard to get to. Unlike Little Rock’s River Market (I-30) and Dallas’ West End (I-30), there are no major thoroughfares that can bring people easily off the interstate and into our downtown. Interstate 30 is three miles and 12 stop lights away from downtown Texarkana.”

The revitalization of the Grim Hotel is a huge statement for the downtown revitalization of Texarkana.

“Downtown Texarkana has a classic southwestern feel to it,” Harrelson said. “There are two major buildings in need of repair—the Grim and the McCartney—and there are some unique buildings that offer a distinctly different architectural style—the Rialto building and the Ace of Clubs House. It is divided right down the middle by State Line Avenue, which brings both a unique aspect and a major dividing line, since it divides two cities, two counties and two states.”