The Selma Times-Journal

Local residents had an opportunity during a town hall meeting Monday to express their desires for the St. James Hotel, which is under new management.

The hotel, now under a lease agreement between the city of Selma and Gourmet Services of Atlanta, is open for business, but at a scaled-back operation.

The hotel is expected to be fully operational by Oct. 1.

Hermine Ngnomire of Street Source in Denver, Colo., facilitated the public forum. Residents expressed a desire for amenities including afternoon tea in the courtyard, outdoor dining, jazz on the river and a Sunday brunch.

They even discussed the types of food they’d like to have served (regional/Creole and &8220;a good steak&8221;), as well as the dress code they’d like to see the restaurant and bar enforce (business casual).

Ngnomire was quick to point out, however, that &8220;the hotel has to work for everyone in the community. We don’t want to exclude anyone,&8221; she said. &8220;This is an upscale hotel. But we do want to keep it inclusive.&8221;