Al Monzo's Palace Inn, a Monroeville landmark, closed Wednesday night after 31 years. "Mrs. (Daisy Rose) Monzo for some time now wanted to retire," said Mark Regan, business manager for the Monzo family, which owns the hotel. "There were a variety of issues that we were pondering. As we continued to discuss it and weigh all the factors, it became increasingly clear that this would be the best decision for us." The hotel, at Routes 22 and 48, was a major staple for the Monzo Family, which operated several businesses in Monroeville and surrounding communities. Not long after family patriarch Al Monzo died in 2000, family members began receiving interest in the property. The hotel has 261 rooms, an indoor pool, a spa with a steam room, an exercise room and a restaurant. A lounge featured live entertainment on the weekend and a ballroom with dancing on Sundays. The family, which includes three daughters of Al and Daisy Monzo and two of Al's sisters, decided it would be best to pursue other business opportunities, Regan said. Employees were notified of the closing yesterday morning. "It was a very emotional meeting," he said. "It was a river of tears for everyone. Many have been here for 15 to 20 years. This is a family." Wes Blaha, president of the Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce, was surprised to hear about the closing. "It's a landmark," Blaha said. "In its heyday, it was the premier hotel here with all the amenities. It just fell on hard times." Blaha said he tried to link several developers, local and national, with the Monzo family in an attempt to keep a hotel at the intersection. "We were trying but they just couldn't strike a deal," Blaha said. "They all said the price was too high." Regan would not disclose an asking price, but said price was never the stumbling block in getting a deal done. He said developers he spoke with cited a need for road improvements and other infrastructure upgrades. There are no current plans for the hotel, Regan said. "There have been several scenarios," said Regan, who also manages the Parkvale Building near the hotel for the family. "Nothing has really played out. There is no imminent deal on the table."

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