Q Lounge opens at Quality Inn

When Karen and Carl Leyba, owners of the Quality Inn, wanted to create a certain niche at the hotel, they knew exactly who to call – their friend Dan Powell, a retired judge from Colorado.

That niche is a vision of the kind of hotels one would find in the 30s and 40s, with a lounge in the lobby for guests where even locals could come in for a quiet drink and a little conversation.

From that vision came the Q Lounge.

The Q is a place where you can come in and have a quiet drink after work and maybe indulge in one of their delicious Tapas, “little portions.” The Tapas will change every day and Powell plans on bringing in desserts as well.

“We want to be the place where you can come here and have a drink and an hors d’oeuvre before going out to dinner,” Powell said. “And the place where you can come and have a drink and dessert after dinner, too.”

Powell has extensively studied wines and plans to add a Wine Club to the Q where guests can try different wines and learn a little more about them. He hopes to be able to bring in representatives from different wineries to help with your wine education.

Right now, you will find “Wine Down” Fridays at the Q, and while the space is limited right now, there are plans to expand the Q down the road.

“We’re here to cater to our guests,” Powell explained. “We want to be able to offer a little something to eat to our hotel guests that they can take back to their room. If they come in late and don’t really want to go to a restaurant, we’ve got them covered.”

Those goodies would also be available to locals stopping in. He’s planning little pizzas along with soup and breads and a few other delicious offerings.

“We want the Q Lounge to make you feel at home before you head home,” he said.