Hampton Inn set for Royal and Conti site

Hotel developers from Tuscaloosa paid $1 million for more than half an acre at the corner of Royal and Conti streets and plan to build a 150-room Hampton Inn & Suites, according to court records and developers. Windwood Mobile plans to start construction soon on the seven-story hotel, which should open in the summer of 2008, according to developer Mike Cowart of Cowart Hospitality Services in Birmingham. The hotel owners plan to lease the Republic parking lot at Royal, Government and St. Emanual streets from Meaher LLC for guest parking, he said. Joe Davis and Charlie Gray of Surety Land Title handled the closing.

Local builders Joe Vinson and Charlie Maclay bought the remaining 70 acres in Wynn- field subdivision on Sollie Road for $1 million and plan to develop 45 lots, according to court records. The sellers were the David Pilot Family LP. So far, 116 homes have been built in the planned 200-lot subdivision, according to Vinson. The homes average $600,000 and up.

Local investors paid $410,000 for 71 acres of farmland east of Baldwin County 87 and north of Baldwin County 32 in Elberta, according to John Flynn of Yance, Inge & Associates.

The vacant 4,400-square-foot Hayes Knodel building at 5452 Cottage Hill Road near University Boulevard was purchased by a local investor for $305, 000, according to Matt Diamond of Diamond Properties, who represented the buyer. Sandra Waltman of REMAX Partners worked for the seller.

Locally owned Cain's Grocery has opened in 50,000 square feet in South Baldwin Shopping Center at Alabama 59 and Michigan Avenue in Foley, according to Tommy Cain, the store owner. The new store features a wine cellar, HurriCain's Deli and HurriCain's Cafe, which has wireless Internet access and a large-screen TV. Cain also owns Cain's Grocery in Loxley and Cain's B&H in Mobile.

The Alabama Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Division has leased 6,000 square feet in Westgate Center at U.S. 90 and Demetropolis Road, according to Gavin Bender Sr. of Bender Real Estate Group.

Cheer Xplosion, a competitive All-Star gym offering tumbling, stunt and cheer classes, has leased a new, 3,000-square-foot building at 10160 Airport Blvd., according to Paul Hildesheim, owner of the building. The gym also leases an adjacent 1,800-square-foot building, he said.