When I think about the history of Midland and all the business deals that have happened over the decades, I can’t help but think of what it was like when the rush of opportunities became available to develop and grow Midland back then. I imagine businessmen, bankers, entrepreneurs, oilmen, cattle ranchers, and the like meeting at the Scharbauer Hotel in downtown Midland. Meeting in the lobby or hotel bar hammering out deals while hammering down drinks like a Western version of “Mad Men.” Even after the Scharbauer Hotel was torn down and replaced with what was once the Midland Hilton and seeing deals down in the late 70s and early 80s before the “bust.”
Today, that’s not happening anymore. If not, for downtown institutions like Wall Street Bar & Grill, The Bar, Cancun Grill and Luigi’s, you wouldn’t see deals and opportunities discussed downtown. When I travel for work or delivering keynote speeches, I’m heading to the downtown areas of those cities. That is where collaboration and growth are happening, and it is all around us.
Over the last decade, our West Texas neighbors have developed or have developed new hotels in their downtown business districts. They know that for their future growth and development, they must take care of the “heart” of their city. We’ve seen this in Odessa with the Marriott. As a Midlander, I am jealous of how great that hotel project turned out, though I’m not surprised with the vision that Toby and Sandra Eoff had with it. In Abilene, its new DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center has become the go-to place downtown for dining and events. Lubbock has plans for a new hotel project that will complement the beautiful Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences. Amarillo has had the Barfield Hotel, Embassy Suites and soon the redevelopment of the Herring Hotel, all of which cameabout with other downtown development projects. El Paso has The Plaza Pioneer Park Hotel to thank for its revitalization. Even in downtown Big Spring, you have The Settles Hotel, one of the best historic hotels to visit in West Texas.
That leads us back to Midland. It’s been quiet since the Hotel Santa Rita project news announcement last spring. Other than demolishing the former Western United Life building making noise (pun intended), people have asked me, “What’s new?” Well, the good news is that the project is moving towards a start date. This hotel is an opportunity for Midland to bring something that becomes a place to be once again. To have that great hotel where you can invite potential dealmakers to make it their hotel of choice when they come to town. Enjoy a great date night at the hotel restaurant and bar; enjoy a walk around the park. Or when you’ve entertained an evening at Summer Mummers a little too much, make it a staycation instead. Also, to mention the future retail, restaurant and entertainment opportunities that will develop around it and enhance what is already there.
This hotel becomes the missing piece to what has become the start of making downtown Midland a healthy heart to our community again, which is a benefit to all of us in more ways than just the economic impact. Maybe then we can all experience the opportunities I once imagined in the excitement of Midland’s past and be a part of Midland’s future.