Paso Robles Visitors Center getting a facelift
The Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center office is undergoing a complete renovation.
Locals donated time, materials & funds to renovation efforts
There’s a lot of dust flying about downtown inside the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, but that is just fine with Karyl Lammers, executive director of the visitors center. She says the end result of the construction is sure to be well worth the temporary inconvenience.
All labor for the renovation of the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center has been donated.
“The Chamber and Visitor Center has been in this location for over 20 years,” Lammers says. The office is located in the former Smith Sporting Goods Building at 1225 Park St. in downtown Paso Robles. “Our end goal is to be one of the nicest, most informative visitor centers in the state.”
In recent weeks, Paso Robles has been mentioned on CBS News as one of the best vacation destinations in the United States; a London newspaper ranked Paso Robles as one of the top 15 of places to visit worldwide, and Wine Enthusiast Magazine named it the Wine Region of the Year – just a few reasons that Lammers said it was time to remodel and upgrade, in hopes of accommodating a large influx of visitors to the area.
Under the advice of Chamber Board Member and Vice Chair of the Visitor Center division, Holiday Inn Express General Manager John Arnold, an Advisory Council was formed in early April to pursue the renovation efforts; construction is currently about half-way complete. All the labor for this project has been donated; the Chamber provided half of the flooring costs and currently in need of donations to purchase a desk, door, awning, and more.
Key players in the construction include:
- April Romig of Elan Vital Furniture, designer. “The entire look is her vision,” Lammers says.
- Jim Romig, general contractor. “He is responsible for tearing down walls, moving walls and creating new walls.”
- Big Creek Lumber donated all materials for the renovation
- Ian Hoover, Paso Robles Waste & Recycle, supplied waste disposal bins for demolition weekend
- Jason Penn and crew, Precision Drywall, donated a day of preparing walls for paint
- Randy Lane, Kelly Moore Paints, donated all paint
- Steve Trombley, Trombley Painting Company, painted all walls and wood trim
- Bill Bogdan, Bogdan Floor Company, partial donation of beautiful engineered hardwood, donation of time for installation
Located at 1225 Park St. in downtown Paso Robles, the Chamber and Visitors Center remains open during renovations. All labor has been donated.
Along with a multitude of updates inside the Visitors Center during Phase 1 of the project, the outside of the building will sport a new door, awning, trim and signage in the near future.
“We are planning to be finished with Phase I by the end of May,” Lammers says. “Phase II is on the heels of Phase I, and should be completed by mid- June.”
The focal point of the new lobby will be a large mural, donated by a local artist, of the iconic Paso symbol – the Spanish oak. All those donating $25-1,000 or more to the renovation efforts by May 30 will be acknowledged with their name – business or individual – permanently represented on a leaf of the tree. The mural will be unveiled during an open house at the center in June. Contact Karyl Lammers at (805) 238-0506 or karyl@visitpaso.com for more information.
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