The College Inn has been under the ownership of Rob Ahrens since 2019, though the building itself was first constructed in 1909. Situated in the University District of Seattle, many of those who stay at the inn are visiting the University of Washington, whether as a professor or a potential student. Currently, a total of 27 guestrooms are available for reservation at The College Inn. With regard to the nature of the establishment, Rob describes the inn to have a "historic university" feel and a Tudor style. The interior of the inn is decorated with many books and photographs about different historical events or historic sites such as the Alaskan Yukon Pacific Expedition and the University of Washington.
Located in the University District of Seattle, Washington, The College Inn offers 27 rooms for guest reservations. The inn can be found inside a four-story building that is shared with cafes and a historic pub on the bottom floors. The guestrooms and the remainder of the inn's fraction of the property can be found on floors two, three, and four. Guests can check in on the ground-level floor upon arrival. The building itself is characterized by a Tudor style, with European features. Rob Ahrens, the owner, mentions that he has done a fair amount of traveling in his life throughout places in Asia, Europe, and South America, and he has brought back some of his favorite hotel amenity ideas. These are evident in the provided board games, cards, shared kitchen, and free library that are available for visitors during their stay.
The majority of guestrooms feature a queen-size bed; however, some also contain a twin in addition to the queen. It should be noted that one of the rooms has a king-size bed and two twins. Additionally, every room includes a desk, considering that many of those who stay at the inn are in the area to visit the university. A bench is in the bay window of about half of the rooms as well. Furthermore, each of the bathrooms that the inn offers are supplied with basic amenities such as shampoo, body wash, conditioner, towels, and washcloths, among others. Moreover, visitors have access to a shared kitchen during their time at The College Inn. The fourth floor of the building is considered to be the inn's Loft common area, featuring a sitting area, dining tables, a library, and the shared kitchen that offers free coffee and tea to all guests. Standard amenities are also provided in the kitchen, which can allow patrons to cook their own meals if they please.
Apart from the University District, a number of tourists also come to attend UW sports events and concerts held at a local venue called The Neptune, which Rob frequently directs his patrons to. With regard to places to eat, Rob recommends several nearby restaurants, many of which are located in the same building as the inn. In the basement of the building, a bar called the College Inn Pub can be found, and, as reported by Rob, the pub dates back to the year 1970. Other dining options in the building include Bean and Bagel, a relatively small coffee shop, and Basil Viet Café, a Thai Vietnamese restaurant. Rob also recommends a place inside the building called Happy Café, which primarily sells boba tea. Outside the borders of the property, a Mexican restaurant known as Agua Verde is situated on the lakefront of Portage Bay. Lastly, Rob recommends Ivar's Salmon House, a restaurant that overlooks the skyline of Seattle, as stated by Rob.
Rob Ahrens, the current owner of The College Inn, has the goal to "create an ambiance where people can hang out, meet someone new, play games, or watch movies and sports games." Rob and the staff also want their visitors to be respectful of other guests during their time at the inn. The owner does not tolerate rowdy behavior as he states that he is "concerned about ensuring that all of our guests are comfortable." Another goal that the owner has is to create a family-friendly atmosphere. He describes the inn to be "quirky, homey, and friendly," and he wants to maintain this environment. Rob and the staff also strive to make themselves accessible to patrons if they have any questions or concerns.
The overall character of The College Inn, as reported by Rob, projects a "historic university" feel. This is a particular aspect of the inn that Rob tries to emulate, as guests who come to visit the University constitute about 70 to 75% of the inn's business. In an effort to create this historic environment, The College Inn is decorated with many "historic books and photos," as mentioned by Rob, of the University of Washington, the Alaskan Yukon Pacific Expedition, and Seattle in a historical sense. The owner has also put forth effort into teaching his staff about The College Inn's history, with the intent to provide visitors with more information about where they are staying if they are curious to know. Interaction between the owner/staff and their guests occurs often, especially at the front desk where they meet their guests upon check-in. Rob also comments that they socialize with visitors on the fourth floor where free coffee and tea are offered.
Several reviews from previous patrons comment on the "homey feel" or "small, inviting stature of the inn," in the words of Rob. One previous visitor remarked, "The staff was so sweet, warm, and informative. You can tell they take pride in their hotel. I slept peacefully, and the whole place smells like fresh sheets and linen."
The College Inn is open year-round with the busiest season of operation typically occurring in the summer, starting from May to mid-October. Nearly two-thirds of the demographics of those who visit the inn are people who are associated with the University, whether it's a student, professor, or family/friends of students. Rob mentions that they receive several visitors who are on school tours looking to see if they want to go to the University of Washington. They also receive nurses or people who have appointments at the University Medical Center.
The earlier history of The College Inn dates back to when it was first built during the Alaskan Yukon Pacific Exposition in 1909. At the time, an occurrence known as the World Fair was taking place for all of the countries surrounding the Pacific Ocean. Many people were engaging in the Gold Rush in Alaska, and this "highlighted the northwest," according to Rob Ahrens, the owner of The College Inn. After the World Fair, The College Inn property was subsequently under the ownership of the University of Washington in downtown Seattle. Rob comments that this property is the "oldest commercial building in the university district that still remains, and the oldest hotel in Seattle."
Rob Ahrens was first led into the lodging industry when he built a cottage in the backyard of his personal home. As he rented this cottage out through Airbnb, he began to realize that accommodating guests is something he enjoyed. This, in turn, caused him to start managing Airbnb properties. Eventually, Rob discovered The College Inn was for sale and he decided to purchase it in 2019.
The College Inn has been in business as a hotel since the year 1909. All elements of the inn were redone circa 1970, as reported by Rob. Modern amenities were added, and Rob explains that he has tried to make the inn similar to a museum, in terms of style and interior décor. Many historic Seattle photographs can be found throughout The College Inn.
Some of the major renovations that were done in the 1970s entail the removal of bathrooms from the rooms to the hallway. This was done with the intent to turn the building into a hostel. Currently, Rob is in the process of adding those bathrooms back to the rooms, and so far, about 10 of the 27 units still use the hallway bathrooms. When Rob took ownership of the property, he refurnished the inn, added new beds and 15 bathrooms, and did a complete repainting, plus many other updates. With the various renovations that have been done to the property, Rob remarks, "113 years of growth and changes and we're still here." As for future plans, Rob hopes to divide one of the rooms on the fourth floor which is relatively large in size, making it two units instead of one.
4000 University Way NE
Seattle, Washington 98105
United States
Tudor
Rob Ahrens
