Vagabond Inn gets new life

The 130-room Vagabond Inn in Reno is under new ownership and is currently undergoing more than $200,000 worth of renovations to improve the building.

Located at 3131 South Virginia St., the new owners, Michael Bathla and his wife Sarah Bathla, are dedicated to revitalizing the hotel and to providing a hospitable experience for their guests.

“We want to make Vagabond Inn as safe, peaceful environment where our guests can enjoy their stay with friends and family,” said Michael.

The 40-year-old building was in need of many repairs and upgrades when the Bathlas acquired the property July 1.

They have since completed renovations to the exterior, pool and the lobby area and added new air conditioning units inside all of the rooms, onsite laundry and an ATM for guests. The addition of new LCD TVs, improved bedding, microwaves, refrigerators and renovations to the interior of the building are currently underway.

“We are excited to see the finished product and optimistic about the growth potential for both the property and the city of Reno,” Michael said in a press release. “Not everyone coming to Reno is looking for a hotel with a casino attached.”

The remaining renovations are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

This is not Sarah and Michael’s first venture into the business world. They also own and operate East West CPA, Inc., located at 550 E. Plumb Lane.

Michael has 21 years of experience in accounting and is the president of the firm. Sarah is the office manager for the business and together they work alongside Certified Public Accountant Daren McDonald to offer consulting on accounting and taxes, payroll, and bookkeeping for small businesses in northern Nevada.

The firm has more than 650 business clients, including clients who run hotels and motels in the area. However, they wanted a business that would allow them to have a more personal relationship with the people they served, and the Vagabond Inn allows them to do just that.

“We were missing the hospitality side of business,” Sarah said. “We knew that we had the experience and skills to run the business successfully.”

The hotel employs approximately 16 to 20 people. It is a pet-friendly inn with room rates starting around $50 per night.

The Reno property is one of 27 Vagabond Inn hotels. The first Vagabond Inn opened in California in 1958 and the brand is now owned by Vista Investments. There are currently 25 Vagabond Inn hotels in California, one hotel in Nevada and one hotel in Oregon.