Urbane 'Testing Waters' for Hotel Rooms in Downtown Royal Oak

For those who love Royal Oak nightlife but hate the drive home, there is a new solution—spend the night downtown. For $99 a night, visitors can book a fully furnished, midcentury loft-style studio apartment at Urbane Overnight.

The trendy studio accommodations have appliances, hardwood floors, brushed aluminum cabinets, French door balconies and free wireless Internet access. The rooms are located in the building on Sixth Street.

The concept of offering short-term apartment rentals is not new. The idea is catching on quickly among home and condo owners who offer their residences for short-term stays on sites such as Airbnb.com, according to an Urbane Overnight press release.

“The location is great. We’re located next to restaurants, shopping, nightlife and theaters,” said Eric Brown, president of Urbane Apartments.

It's also near bus and train stations, the intersection of two major freeways and one of the area's biggest tourist attractions—the —but Brown hopes to appeal to more than just out-of-town visitors. He hopes anyone who spends an evening in Royal Oak—for birthdays, date nights, bachelor/bachelorette parties—will consider spending the night.

"We offer the feeling of staying in a friend’s really cool apartment, as opposed to a generic hotel room," Brown said.

Brown said he is considering opportunities to expand the Urbane Overnight concept in downtown Royal Oak. He’s eying the Madrid Hotel at 218 W. Sixth St. The 22-room hotel, with its second-floor accommodations, is largely unknown to many residents and visitors.

“We’re interested in pursuing the Madrid,” Brown said. “Part of the reason for Urbane Overnight is to test the market.”

If he were to purchase the Madrid, Brown said he would “trick out” all the rooms and add bathrooms so each room has its own. Currently, the hotel has one bathroom for every two rooms, he said.

Urbane Overnight is located at 310 W. Sixth St. in downtown Royal Oak. For more information, call 248-988-7125.