MONROE — The Eugene hotel’s re-opening last Friday — putting hotel rooms back on the Square, was praised by the Monroe Common Council during its regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 3.

Though already open and doing steady business, a Grand Reopening Celebration and open house will occur on August 19 — the same day 101 years ago when the original hotel held its first open house. The hotel is a newly restored 25-room boutique space located at 1517 11th Street.

It originally opened in August 1925; and closed in 1981.

Resurrecting the Eugene Hotel was led by Chris Soukup of Baumgartner’s, another downtown icon; in close partnership with his brother, Tyler Soukup; and Aaron Holverson of Studio GWA in Monroe.

“We sort of want to keep the excitement going,” Chris said of the upcoming public event.

He was asked to appear before the council to provide an update on the new business. The facility actually held a “soft-opening” during fair week — to positive reviews — Soukup told officials.

Those officials praised his tenacity in seeing the project through, with help from local government and other Monroe stakeholders.

“I appreciate all of your work too,” said Ald. Corinne Wartenweiler. “I’m just glad to have that building being reused and redone, and you’ve done all that — you and your company.”

Soukup stressed that while he is proud to revive a downtown landmark with his partners, the project should also boost the entire community — as curious day visitors to shops, services and experiences in Monroe might find a good reason to remain overnight.

The Common Council also surprised Soukup in the middle of his appearance to issue a proclamation celebrating the Eugene Hotel, noting that the building is one of Monroe’s “most treasured landmarks.”

Soukup and Mayor Tom Miller agreed that the restoration of the building — with its aging steel infrastructure and tight spaces — would have been unlikely without the idea of reviving the Eugene as a boutique hotel; and the type of revenue that usage could bring to support such substantial investment.

“I don’t know what else we could have done with this building,” Soukup said during a phone interview on Thursday. “This building would have eventually come down.”