Eloquence

I spent a month here after moving from California. My room was never cleaned, and no fresh linen was offered or provided. When I eventually tracked down a staff member to ask, I was told the next day I had to leave because of a burn mark in the sheets. I don’t smoke and tried to explain it could be a mistake or that the hole was there before my stay, but they didn’t care and told me to be out by the following day. The building felt incredibly unsafe. There were no staff on site after 9 or 10 PM, only an emergency number on a desk sign. That sign was often there even when the women were present, saying they were eating. They apparently eat quite often. More than once, someone waiting at the counter to check in needed me to go into the break room and alert them. Police came three times while I was there. The place is basically a construction site, with exposed concrete ceilings in my room. I don’t understand how regulations allow it to stay open in this condition. I wouldn’t recommend it. Spend your money elsewhere.

The central location and affordable room were good, and I liked the urban-chic bare cement ceiling and walls, the remodeled shower with an amazing showerhead, and the full-sized fridge. But the renovations were impossible to miss. Every interior hallway was in the worst condition I’ve seen, and a lot was broken: vending machines, ice machine, luggage cart, and our TV. The room door had to be lifted to lock, while the window had only a thin shade that let in all the light and no curtains. There weren’t any towel racks in the bathroom. We were told renovations were underway, and they sure were.

I stayed for more than five months, and after the first 30 days, I spent six weeks knowingly paying a lower rate because Cherokee said that was what the computer showed and that was all she’d charge. Then I was told to pay the difference plus a $200 security deposit I hadn’t known about. I paid the amount they asked for over about 45 days, but she still says I owe around $400. I don’t think so. She was lucky I paid anything. You wouldn’t buy a Big Mac at McDonald's for $5 and then be asked six weeks later to pay the extra because it was actually $8. Cherokee took matters into her own hands and charged my debit card without authorization for whatever amount she wanted, then had police escort me out. She admitted in writing, on company letterhead, that she took my money. So after I file a report, she’ll be the one escorted by police, straight to jail. I’ve been busy moving my belongings around and finding somewhere to live because Eloquence has at least $700 of my money, so it may be a week or so.

I called to ask about long-term rates, which sounded reasonable, but decided against staying with my family after asking about the reviews. I asked whether they treated bed bugs, and the woman said they didn’t have them, though that wasn’t what the reviews said. When I asked if the manager Cherokee still worked there, she said yes. I mentioned reviews saying she was difficult to deal with and would call the police if you had a late checkout, and the deposit was another concern: $200, with $75 kept as a cleaning fee. I’ve never heard of a hotel keeping a cleaning fee when cleaning the room is their job. It seemed fishy, and I’m convinced the reviews are accurate. Those issues are why my family and I chose not to stay.