Our town: Holiday Inn: Thanks for the memories

Longboat Key firefighter/paramedic Tom Batchelor read the “Closing Time” story about the 10 years since the Holiday Inn closed in last week’s Longboat Observer and was reminded of fond memories.

He attended the hotel liquidation sale a decade ago and bought some TVs.

But the best things in life are free: At the sale, Batchelor noticed the sign for the Coral Reef West, where many receptions and events were held, and asked staff if he could keep it as a memory.

Today, Batchelor has the sign mounted in his garage and looks at it frequently, remembering the many good times he had there.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].