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The NoHo (unofficial) motto is: “NoHo is only as great as its people.”
NoHo Arts District hasn’t always been here. Before it became an arts district it was just plain old North Hollywood and struggled to define itself. One of the original business, in what was to become NoHo, was The Colony Inn. The Purohit family purchased the hotel in 1996, believing in the area’s potential for growth and renovation. They were also reassured that the district was soon to become a cultural destination once it earned its Arts District designation.
Ranna Purohit became the sole owner of the hotel in 2002, operating the hotel while she raised her three boys, all of whom have recently graduated college, moving on to lives of their own.
As a mother and a business woman in the highly competitive world of a hotelier, with huge companies buying up independent inns like The Colony Inn everywhere, we wondered how Ranna has held onto her inn and has run it so successfully. So we asked!!
How did you feel operating the hotel by yourself and raising three boys in the hotel?
It was a challenge, but I found that my perseverance allowed me to succeed in both my roles as a mother and a businesswoman.
What have been the joys and sorrows of operating Colony Inn?
One of the major joys of operating Colony Inn has been allowing myself to provide for my family, all while instilling in them the same values that have allowed me to prosper as a successful and ethical businesswoman. Though this has been a lifelong journey of mine, it has not come without hardship. Being the sole owner of a developing property and the sole caregiver of a family of three has proven challenging. I have endured periods of uncertainty and stress through my career and have had to persevere through mostly my own efforts. But it is through my determination and god’s willing grace that I continue to succeed.
If you had a magic wand what would you change about the NoHo Arts District?
I would like the neighborhood to continue its course of improvement and dedication to the arts.
What do you particularly like about NoHo?
I especially appreciate the neighborhood’s culture in relation to the city of Los Angeles as a whole.
What is special about Colony Inn?
Colony Inn is a family run business situated in the NoHo Arts District within close proximity to many L.A. attractions that is dedicated to providing its clients with the care and hospitality they deserve.
When a person is looking for a hotel, what are the main things they should look for?
There are many aspects to consider when choosing a hotel. The quality and affordability of the rooms and service, along with the location’s proximity to local attractions are usually at the top of prospective clients’ list. Hotels must also be situated in safe neighborhoods, in areas that are family friendly for tourists and those vacationing as well.
Since nohoartsdistrict.com’s inception in 2005, Colony Inn has been supportive of the work done by nohoartsdistrict.com. Ranna has always seen the importance of community involvement. She has played an important part in the growth of the NoHo Arts District as an entertainment and arts destination.
Bravo to Ranna Purohit who had the foresight to build the first hotel in a struggling, blighted area full of artists. She always believed that the district would be what it has become today!
Thanks for helping to #KeepNoHoArtsy … and for providing a comfortable, kind and warm place for folks to lay their head.
The Colony Inn
4917 Vineland Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(818) 763-2787
**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict. Meet Ranna Purohit of The Colony Inn in NoHo via the official NoHo Arts District Guide; www.nohoartsdistrict.com