TRENTON, NJ-This capital city's only hotel, which was sold at auction seven months ago for $6 million, reopened this week as the Wyndham Garden Trenton Hotel.

The 164-room hotel on West Lafayette Street opened in 2002 as the Trenton Marriott, but has never generated the profit or economic stimulus downtown that was envisioned when it was built at a cost of $60 million with city backing.

A year ago, after the Marriott brand withdrew its flag from the hotel, the city brought in Marshall Hotels & Resorts as operator and a nonprofit board was appointed by the mayor to assess how to handle the asset. The board filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, leading to the auction sale.

The city continues to own and operate the attached parking garage of the hotel.

The current hotel owner, Edison Broadcasting of New York, held a grand reopening this week, unveiling renovations to the lobby, ballroom and conference space. Bran N. Viswanath and his wife Sathya, the principals of Edison, said they intend to turn the hotel into a gem for the city. “We've spared no expense in making that happen,” said Deepak Viswanath, their son. “In the months to come we will continue to make improvements.” Room renovations are next on the agenda, he said.

A hotel liquor license is expected to be approved next month after renovations are complete to the bar area.

Wayne Susser of Wyndham Hotels told The Trenton Times that his brand was attracted to the hotel because of the commitment and approach of the new ownership.

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