Submitted Photo Jay Patel, left, and Vishal Patel are now the owners of Webb’s hotel in Mayville.

MAYVILLE – A popular hotel in the center of Chautauqua County has new owners.

Jay Patel of Fredonia and his business partner Vishal Patel of Getzville have announced they have purchased Webb’s Resort on West Lake Road in Mayville. They bought it from Darrell and Janel Paul Webb, who will continue to own and operate Webb’s Candy and Gifts.

Jay, who is a 2015 Fredonia High School graduate, comes from a family that is very active in the hotel industry. His father is Pravin Patel, the owner and general manager of the Best Western and Quality Inn, both on Vineyard Drive in Dunkirk. Before that, they owned the Dunkirk Motel and the former Vineyard Restaurant and Hotel. “Growing up, all I knew was business and hotel hospitality,” he said.

And Jay is a bit of an entrepreneur. In 2019, he and another partner Kaleb Martinez started J&K Precision Cleaning, which does commercial and residential cleaning, janitorial and epoxy coating.

He also is in the process of opening Firehouse Sub franchises. He and his partner Genaro Collazo are opening their first sub restaurant in Erie, Pa. on Monday, April 29. In the fall he hopes to open a Fredonia location and then later another in the Jamestown/Lakewood area.

Jay also has a vehicle customization shop in Orchard Park, called The Lab North America, with partners Chris Einhart and Alex Loudenslager. Some of their clients are members of the Buffalo Bills, including general manager Brandon Beane.

But even with all these businesses, Jay is confident he will have the time to take care of everything at Webb’s. He already has some remodeling ideas. “Our plans are to essentially give the whole place – the exterior and interior design – a modern and contemporary look but with a cozy feel to it,” he said.

Ideally before the summer season, he wants to install some new lighting and carpets. He doesn’t want to disrupt things too much during the high tourism season.

Even though the hotel will no longer be owned by a Webb family member, Jay said they will keep the Webb name attached in some manner.

He also said they aren’t interested in renting the hotel to Chautauqua County for the homeless population. Jay said his family has been asked to use their hotels by the county, but they have declined and he said the same will be true in Mayville.

Along with the hotel, they purchased the Putt-Putt miniature golf course. Jay said the mini-golf will be given immediate attention as well, with plans to be open this summer.

Jay and his partner did not purchase Webb’s Captain’s Table Restaurant, which is up for sale.

“I would love for a local business, such as a brewery, a pizza lounge, craft cocktail or whatever, to come in and we could kind of pair both businesses together,” he said.

In the end, Jay said they want to continue the strong history of Webb’s.

“It’s a 50-unit property with an interior corridor, a pool and spa. It’s been visited by a ton of celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, the Secret Service stayed there when the Clintons were in town,” he said.