The front entrance to the Hotel Toledo on Oct. 3, 2019. Chronicle photos/John Speer

Deb Mason, new owner of the Hotel Toledo says her six-year-old grandson has a different take on grandma’s new property – he believes the tall pillars on the front signify not a hotel – instead, “City Hall.”

“I like the architecture of the building, it’s history,” Mason says even though the grandson has a different purpose for it in mind.

Mason took possession of the 118-year-old three-story building at 114 South Broadway on June 28 from John Lackey. He had been the owner-operator since 2001.

Already she has added updates in the furnishings of the common area. Additional seating and flowers now on the wide front porch are in place which are aimed at giving the building “more curb appeal” Mason says. There’s also much work being completed on “deferred maintenance” areas, Mason says.

Mason is operating on a weekly-rental basis featuring 15 apartments and five rooms. She is not a stranger to the business having owned and rented single -family homes, duplexes and six-plexes in Marshalltown. In addition she continues to serve as a realtor for Premier Real Estate in Marshalltown where she has been employed for 23 years.

The commons area of Hotel Toledo with new furnishings.

A Marshalltown native, she says she has now become a “Toledoan” having also purchased a home here. She is also aquatinted with Toledo through good friend Laura Davis along with Laura’s husband, Bill, and the family.

Deb has two sons, one living in Ankeny and one in Marshalltown, and seven grandchildren.

Mason says fusure plans for Hotel Toledo are to continue upgrades and says some additional ideas are in the offing.

For rental information Mason may be contacted at 641-4845-0793.

But to answer the question: (Deb has also owned and operated a cafe at Laurel in the past) “no restaurant or bar” is in the works.