'I Called It The Superman Building': Readers Respond To Mahwah Sheraton Shutting Down

MAHWAH, NJ — They say you don't appreciate what you have 'til it's gone.

After Patch posted a story on Sunday about the Sheraton Mahwah closing after 35 years, more than 200 readers shared colorful memories of staying there, working there, and even helping construct the iconic structure.

Some said they met their spouse or got married there. And most said they're sad to see the hotel go.

"When I was little I called it the Superman building and thought he lived there," wrote a woman on Facebook.

"Growing up in NJ then raising kids in VT, our southbound travels were marked by this building," wrote another. "I called it 'Spidey’s Tower.' "

The 22-story hotel can be viewed from Route 17, and is just south of the border with New York State.

It closed for good on Friday, Dec. 15, as the owners of the property plan to demolish it and build two warehouses on the site. Patch's story on Sunday included a poignant letter from the hotel management to the workers.

Many of the commenters on Mahwah Patch's Facebook page said they wished the hotel wasn't closing.

"Used to stay here all the time when I worked on the road and needed a hotel to stay at," wrote one man. "The staff was great, the food was good and the scenery was beautiful."

"Worked on that building (mason)," wrote a man. "Just can’t believe this is coming down to put up warehouses!!!! Such a waste and so sad!!"

"This is how is how capitalism operates," wrote another. "Greed is the reason why this whole area is so congested with traffic and noise. Bergen County represents very poor urban planning."

"I remember going there as a child with my parents," wrote a man. "The building had just been finished. I got in trouble with another kid for going separately into each elevator and racing them up the side of the building. The were exposed above the atrium lobby. I even wrote a disaster story about the hotel in school and drew a picture of it on the cover from memory."

"I graduated here in Mahwah in 89, we literally watched it every day being built!" wrote another man. "We cut school one day just to ride the 'fast' elevators coz someone had told us they were the fastest they’d ever ridden."

Readers said they had attended singles' events, car shows, and tennis tournaments there. Someone said her younger brother had attended a teen night.

"My bank had an office there," wrote a woman named Marie. "At the time it was United Jersey Bank. I was the manager. I have a lot of great memories and also brought my mother there a lot to eat there...so sorry to see it go."

In September, Stephen Bello of Blue Sky Hospitality told Patch, "The hotel will be closing on December 15th. We will vacate the space no later than December 31st. The hotel is very much part of the community and has created many memories and has supported businesses and families — but it is closing due to the redevelopment plans."

The owners of the Crossroads Corporate Center property — Crossroads Developers Associates LLC and Garden Crossroads LLC — plan to build two large warehouses. The Mahwah Planning Board heard testimony about a revised plan over the summer.

The owners of the hotel initially fought the town's plans to redevelop the area.

Over the weekend, Bello shared a letter that he gave to the staff, in which he describes the closing as "bittersweet."

"We find ourselves in a challenging situation," he wrote.

All Good Things

Readers shared memories all week long.

"I will miss driving past this as a little girl on our way up to our summer home in PA," wrote a woman.

"Here we go again," wrote a man who referenced the previous occupant of the land: "I felt emotional when the Ford plant shut down. It's evolution I guess."

But some of the commenters managed to find a bright side.

"Are they going to blow it up?" asked one commenter. " Would like to see that live."

READ MORE: See 'Bittersweet' Note Mahwah Sheraton Manager Gave Staff