New owners, new changes at Colonial Motor Inn

By MARK NEWMAN, Courier staff writer

OTTUMWA — Never having been in the business has turned out well for new motel owner Dan Karow: He simply treats people the way he likes to be treated when he’s the guest.

In fact, he was a guest at the Colonial Motor Inn, 1534 Albia Road, when the idea struck him to buy the place.

Karow, originally from Minnesota, had gotten engaged to Ottumwan Debbie Knuth. On a trip to Ottumwa, the couple stayed at the Colonial Motor Inn. Since the purchase in November, they’re both full-time Ottumwans.

“Since then, we have made an awful lot of improvements,” he said.

A retired steam engineer, Karow has used his mechanical abilities and hands-on assistance from his new family to do most of the work. But some of the changes he needed to make surprised him.

“There wasn’t a picture hung in any room,” he said.

That’s changed, as have other things in both the main office and the rooms.

“I bought all new linens to drapes to [better] furniture; and we put coffee makers in all the rooms,” he said.

The office has a computer for the first time, the motel now has an 800 number for reservations and Karow is working on a Colonial Motor Inn Web site.

Some changes are service oriented.

“We’re trying to do things other motels don’t do,” he said.

For example, he’s picked up guests who didn’t have a ride to the motel, taken people to the grocery store when he had time and now that the computer is up, he let’s all guests check their email for free.

“There’s so many things that can be done to make the stay enjoyable for our guests,” he said.

His fiance’s daugther, Chasity Maldonado, helps keep the place running smoothly. She said Karow has really embraced the business.

“He’s always traveling, looking for things for the hotel,” she said, adding the results of his hard work are impressive.

“We’ve seen the before and after pictures,” she said.

Karow said he didn’t want to wait until turning a profit before fixing the place up to his standards.

“If we take and work at getting this place back up, people will tell their friends,” he said.

If that happens, he’s convinced he’ll be able to provide a life for his bride, one of two ways he’ll measure whether he has been successful in his new venture.

Asked what the second factor to knowing he’s been successful will be, he said: “If people come here and enjoy their stay.”

Maldonado thinks Karow’s current formula will work for the Colonial Motor Inn.

“It’s clean and friendly, with people who are willing to help,” she said. “[And Dan] has a big heart.”

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Mark Newman can be reached at 683-5358 or by e-mail at mgnewman@mchsi.com.

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