Shhh. Listen closely. The Rodeway Inn on West 71st Street has a story to tell. A story whispered on the wind that blows down from Central Park. A story etched in the shadows of its twelve stories.
The Rodeway Inn isn’t just a hotel. It’s a place where history and headlines collide. Once known as the Kent Hotel it housed welfare recipients in the early 1970s. It changed names several times. It became a Comfort Inn then finally the Rodeway Inn. This quiet building on a tony street has seen more than its share of drama.
In recent years this seemingly ordinary hotel has been the site of several serious crimes. Robberies assaults even a homicide. In one particularly brazen incident masked men pistol-whipped employees and cleaned out the safe. The police believe an inside job was involved.
The lack of security at the Rodeway Inn has been a source of concern for neighbors. They complain about suspicious activity. They’ve petitioned for better security measures. The Department of Buildings has issued numerous violations. Many complaints have been filed against the hotel.
Rumors swirl around this place. Some say it’s a “bait-and-switch” operation targeting European tourists. Others whisper about illicit activities hidden behind its walls. The truth is somewhere in the darkness. Somewhere in the gap between cheap rooms and expensive trouble.
Rooms start at $152 per night. That’s cheap for New York City. It explains part of the clientele. But it doesn’t explain the crime. The Rodeway Inn’s low prices attract a mix of people. Some are just looking for an affordable place to stay. Others seem to have a different agenda entirely.
The Rodeway Inn stands as a reminder. A reminder that even in the most upscale neighborhoods shadows lurk. The stories they tell are more than just cheap thrills. They are warnings. They are stories of urban decay. They are a chilling reminder that crime can happen anywhere. Even in a hotel on West 71st Street.