URBANA — The hotel adjacent to Lincoln Square Mall has been a landmark hotel in downtown Urbana since the 1920s. It’s a historically significant place, recognized on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service.
But prior to this week, the hotel had been vacant since 2016. On Wednesday, the former Urbana-Lincoln and Landmark Hotel reopened as Hotel Royer, after years of delay.
This is good news for Lincoln Square Mall. Owner James Webster says he’s hoping to see some business revival in the mall after a decline in retail activity over the years.
“Certainly, the hotel being closed for nearly 10 years did not help us,” Webster said.
New restaurants will also be moving in, he said, including a new diner in the south wing, Lazy Daisy Diner & Cafe.
Webster, a real estate appraiser and the president of Webster & Associates, purchased the mall in 1999. He said 2005 to 2018 were the peak years of Lincoln Square, when large employers like Health Alliance were located in the mall.
Lately, the activity level in the mall varies. During the weekends, Webster said events draw in people and “it’s pretty vibrant. During the weekdays, it’s less so.”
The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency has recognized the mall for years for its unique architecture, Webster said, and wanted him to preserve it.
“The architect for Lincoln Square, Victor Gruen, was an Austrian architect who wanted to recreate the European marketplace and vibrancy,” Webster said. “So, he deliberately designed Lincoln Square to have a bland exterior and a kind of vibrant interior.”
He redeveloped the mall in 2005, after which, Lincoln Square Mall came under recognition by the National Park Service.
Webster believes that the reopening of the hotel will be a positive development not just for the mall, but for the broader area.
“Lincoln Square and the hotel will be more vibrant and [have] more to offer for Urbana residents,” Webster said.