November 28, 2011

Chukuni Communities Development Corporation, Red Lake  

Buying a rundown hotel in Ear Falls might seem risky, but Pat Dornan says it wasn’t a huge gamble.  Armed with a comprehensive business plan, the former banker turned to the ChukuniCommunities Development Corporation for help renovating Hotel 105 Bar and Grill. 

“Chukuni helped finance my dream of becoming my own boss; now I’m sitting on a gold mine.  We have a thriving business, a dedicated staff of 16 and a waiting list of people who’d like to work for us,” Pat says.  

Pat and her husband, Doug, renovated the restaurant and then tackled the nine hotel rooms, renting them out as they were completed.  “Community support has been tremendous.  We have a great menu, drawing people from as far away as the U.S. border.  I wish we had more rooms because we’re turning away 10 to 20 people a night,” she adds.   With her original loan paid off, Pat is refinancing through Chukuni to do further renovations.

Photo:  Pat Dornan, Hotel 105 Bar and Grill