When the iconic Romano's Hotel hit the market, one Wagga family knew it was too good an opportunity to pass up.
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And, one of their first plans for the space is to get the accommodation up and running.
It was listed in February and garnered "seven strong offers", according to HTL Property, which managed the sale.
The Oates family currently owns the Riverina Hotel in Holbrook and the Commercial Hotel in Junee and have also run a catering business throughout the region.
"We had been looking for pubs in Wagga for the last couple of years," Mathew Oates said.
"Roms is a really iconic pub that my family loves going to, and when it came up for sale, we thought it was a great project to take on."
Mr Oates said one of their initial projects would be to get the hotel section up and running again.
The well-known establishment features a bar, bistro, large beer garden, several spacious function rooms, a gaming room with 15 entitlements and more than 45 accommodation rooms.
Mr Oates said there is strong demand for rooms in Wagga, especially when popular events such as Gold Cup and the NRL games are on.
"Our first plans are to get in and get a feel for the old girl, and then make our decisions for the future from there," he said.
"I have some painters that will come in after we take over and give some of those rooms a freshen up so they will be ready not long after.
We think reviving the accommodation will be an exciting project.
- Mathew Oates
"Some of the rooms also have the ability to be turned into ensuites as well."
Mr Oates said the hotel market in Wagga is one of the strongest in Australia.
"There are some brilliant pubs in Wagga that are amazing," he said.
"It's something that Lauren, my wife, and I have been striving to be a part of, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do it.
"I think it's a really exciting time for the town. A few hotels have changed hands, and Wagga is growing significantly."
Mr Oates said many people have great memories of Romano's.
"We look forward to creating many more memories for Wagga's visitors and residents alike," he said.
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