Across the street from Downers Grove train station, a 1940s-style awning displays the name “Hotel Tivoli.” The establishment was opened shortly after the Tivoli Theater’s historic opening on Christmas Day of 1928. The hotel has evolved in multiple different ways since it’s 1929 opening. According to the Downers Grove Museum, the hotel once had a restaurant on the second floor and hair salon in the building. It was also used as the office for the Downers Grove grade and high school Board of Education. It’s previous owners inhabited the hotel in an apartment that they had renovated themselves. Today, every space has been converted into multiple hotel rooms.

“It’s a 1940s atmosphere. The whole building has historical certification. It used to be a very high-class hotel,” front desk clerk Ron Christy said. “All the rich people from Chicago who came out on the train would stop here. There are pictures of fancy cars parked out on the street. That was a long time ago, though. When you walk in, you see the dim lighting. It is very much a 1940s-1950s aesthetic. The elevator is one of the original elevators in DuPage County. It has one of those old pull across gates.”

The building contains 54 single occupancy rooms with private bathrooms and a weekly maid service, a laundry room, and an old-fashioned lobby. There is coffee and a few toiletries for sale in the lobby, but other amenities are minimal. Ron Christy has worked as a desk clerk for three years and has come to know the building well.

“We are the cheapest place in town. Lots of people who are struggling in life stay here. They either have some sort of addictions or are having marital problems. They are looking for a place that is cheap and that they can stay at for a long period of time. We provide a transition for a lot of people. Once they come here, hopefully, they can get their life straightened,” Cristy said.

The hotel does not offer any special accommodation for their guests. Although they may offer informal assistance for their guests who may be having a tough time in life, they do not provide any additional aid.

“We have a few churches that provide holiday dinners for all of our tenants, and other churches provide a weekly meal which is nice because not all of them can afford a hot meal every day,” a Tivoli general manager said.

The Tivoli does not operate like a typical hotel. The minimum stay is one week, and many occupants stay for months and years. As long as they pay their rent on time and stay out of trouble, the Tivoli welcomes theme.

“A big majority of them watch out for each other. It really is a community once you move in,” a general manager said. “Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a vehicle, so those who do ride-share. If someone is not seen for a few days, the other tenants will check on them. There has even been a lot of couples over the years. The guests hang out in the basement and visit each other in their rooms. I’m fine with it as long as they are quiet by 10 PM because the walls are very thin.”

The hotel is typically full, especially during the colder months. The waitlist has been paused because of too many members. The hotel values safety, amidst the full capacity. Rules are non-negotiable, and members will be asked to leave if they do not abide.

“We have easy rules,” a general manager said. “No smoking or cooking in your room. No open liquor. What you do in your room is your business. When housekeeping knocks on your door, you have to let them in. That is because we do not want any hoarding situations or any sort of bugs. We have to make sure that everything is clean. We also have a strict guest policy.”

A guest fee is required at the Tivoli because of the single-occupany policy. No exceptions will be made for any guest, even those who are married. A married couple would be allowed to reside at the hotel and couples do form, but they are required to stay in separate rooms. The only available beds are twin sized.

“It is single occupancy because the rooms are very tiny. Rooms range from eight feet by ten feet to as big as twelve by fourteen. There are not even kitchenettes in the room. Guests are allowed, but if they are going to stay for more than four consecutive hours, they have to pay the fee,” a general manager said.

According to Smith, most members follow the rules. Issues do not arise often. Some especially amiable customers form relationships with members of the staff.

“Most of my employees in the hotel live there as well. They are friendly, caring and know the hotel and its rules. They make excellent employees and I love them to death. These ones are welcoming and watch out for the other tenants. If someone comes in and is a good tenant, I usually look from within to hire,” a general manager said.

Most tenants stay long-term, some even staying decades. According to the Tivoli Hotel website, one man stayed for 43 years. However, there is still turnover of guests and many different types of people make their way through the establishment.

“I once checked in a blind man. We are not ADA compliant, because of when the building was built and we do not offer any special services, so I discouraged him from staying here. He was sure that he would be fine though. Unfortunately, he brought in bugs because he could not see them, so we had to ask him to leave,” Christy said.

Situations like these do occur, however the day to day is pretty quiet. So much so that strange situations become very apparent.

“I have witnessed supernatural happenings. There are definitely spirits in the theater and the hotel. I’ve witnessed so much I could write a book about it. In the hotel, there is a female who screams in the hallways, but when you open the door there is no one there. Sometimes our guests hear knocks on their doors, but when they open the door there is no one there,” a general manager said.

Aside from the occasional situation, the hotel is typically quiet and orderly. Despite any negative stigmas perpetuated, the Tivoli Hotel is a community. Over time, guests form tight-knit relationships. It provides those who are less fortunate or have gotten a bad stroke of luck a second chance.

“We have a lot of bad reviews on Google. I would like people to know that it truly is not that way. We have done great improvements and cleaned up the facilities themselves. The rooms have been remodeled and we keep up with the maintenance. There has been a lot of effort to change the image of the hotel, and it is actually a nice place to stay,” a general manager said.