Toyko Hotel

I was in Chicago May 25-29. When there I noticed the Toyko Hotel. The location is great, right on Ohio. Now that the Cass is becoming a Holiday Inn Express, there are no other discount hotels downtown(Dec. rates show over $200.). I called the Tokyo, a room for two people is $52. a night. Has anyone stayed here, or know anything about it?

Toyko Hotel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Hotel_(Chicago)

Personally, I%26#39;d check out services like Hotwire or Priceline first, then maybe consider this if other options don%26#39;t work out and you are looking for a lower-end hotel.

Toyko Hotel

I always thought that place was an SRO -- catering to semi-homeless people. A good example of the place is the one in Blues Brothers.

Funny this should come up. My husband and I walked by just last week. I made the comment that it looks like THE MOST depressing hotel anywhere. Some of the rooms have cardboard in place of glass in the windows. The windows that are there ar so filthy you can barely see through them. I can only imagine what the rooms must look like inside as I will never go in. I would run far away the Tokyo Hotel!!!!

%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;Funny this should come up. My husband and I walked by just last week. I made the comment that it looks like THE MOST depressing hotel anywhere. Some of the rooms have cardboard in place of glass in the windows. The windows that are there ar so filthy you can barely see through them. I can only imagine what the rooms must look like inside as I will never go in. I would run far away the Tokyo Hotel!!!!%26gt;%26gt;

It is a pretty depressing looking place up close. I think the Comfort Inn (which gets great reviews) is next door or a couple of doors down.

I wasn%26#39;t really thinking of staying there. Not that I could ever afford it, it just looked like a great investment.

%26lt;%26lt;I wasn%26#39;t really thinking of staying there. Not that I could ever afford it, it just looked like a great investment.%26gt;%26gt;

It is in a phenomenal location. Hotels that look as depressing as the Tokyo (if not worse) are being bought up all the time. The old Days Inn Gold Coast, which looked horrible, was bought and is now getting a total rehab.

The Cedar Hotel in the Gold Coast, which I think looks even worse than the Tokyo, just got bought by the Morgans Hotel Group in New York and is going to be turned into a brand new Mondrian Hotel by 2010.

Chicago%26#39;s hotel market is definitely hot.

I have stayed at the Tokyo often over the years. I%26#39;m currently staying there one weekend a month to attend a board meeting for a non profit organization. Despite the fact that it is quite old and spartan, it is an incredible value for downtown Chicago. By the way, the rate for regulars is $45/night and the best rooms are on the 15th and 16th floor.

The clientelle tends to be transient men on the crusty side, and budget travelers in the ';backpacker'; category. I have never seen anything that resembles prostitution on the premises. The management seems to be very careful about excluding that kind of thing. There are a few of us intrepid business travelers that don%26#39;t mind the unvacuumed carpet and the pealing paint. Thankfully, the sheets are clean. My wife refuses to stay there with me. I just don%26#39;t like paying hundreds of dollars for a hotel room when it is just me. I like the old guys who live there on weekly and monthly (probably subsidized) leases. I%26#39;m on a first name basis with some of them.

The building is owned by Mr. Lee. Word has it he has been offered millions for the property by Nordstroms, Hilton, and the other major corporate entities surrounding this prime Riverside North location on Ohio between State and Wabash. He seems immune to such offers and is quite happy to operate the Tokyo, as he has for decades, as an un-restored establishment for transients and cheapskates -- God bless him. I have never met Mr. Lee, but I understand his kids are now up and out and, sadly, he may be thinking about selling in a few years.

I have become friends with John Allen who is often at the desk when I check in. John rememers me even when I return after a year or two hiatus. He keeps me advised of Mr. Lee%26#39;s status.

Reservations aren%26#39;t necessary, but I usually call ahead to reserve one of the better rooms.

All the rooms have private bathrooms. The Tokyo takes credit cards,

Caveats:

-Don%26#39;t expect a TV that gets more than two channels.

-I usually bring my own towel, because the ones provided are tiny and thread bare.

-Rooms often lack a reading light, so I bring my own.

-Rooms are not air conditioned. This is only an issue during the hottest days of the summer, when I bring my own fan.

Feel free to contact me if you want more info: tim.booth@principia.edu.

Sorry dude, I have to take your wife%26#39;s side on this one.

The Tokyo is definitely not for the discriminating or the class conscious. We%26#39;re a very small club -- but not elite. All are welcome, but it takes a degree of tolerance to recognize the opportunity for cultural and sociological enrichment. Economically speaking, Mr. Lee%26#39;s decision to keep the place primitive, ensures that there will always be an inexpensive place for me to stay in Chicago -- even without a reservation. So, thanks for not staying there.

It%26#39;s my pleasure.