As mentioned in previous posts, among the development team for 1633 S. Victory Blvd. is Anand (Andy) Desai, owner/operator of the Glen Capri Motel located on San Fernando Road, and of the Glen Capri Inn & Suites on Winchester Ave. north of San Fernando Road. In light of the reputation of the Glen Capri establishments, notorious online and offline, Rancho residents have serious concerns.
At the time of this post, both establishments have 2-star ratings on Yelp!
Comments are overall unfavorable and quite concerning in some cases:
Reviews for The Glen Capri
Nicole A. Houston, TX 11/17/2018 [2 stars] Cheap. Dirty. Uncomfortable.
Even after renovations this place is dirty and lacking in proper necessities.
The toilet was not cleaned, the tv remote was missing and the night stand was broken upon our arrival.
Spend more money and go somewhere else! It is not worth it to be here. Grace M. voted for this review
Brenda J. Bridgeport, Chicago, IL 8/4/2018 [1 star] Stay away from this MOTEL. The first day we stayed there it was pretty good because they allowed us to choose which rooms we wanted since we booked two rooms. After the first day, everything went downhill. We couldn’t get ice in the morning at 7am because the management sucks. Someone that morning filled two bags full of ice until the machine was empty. When we approached the guy in the front desk, he simply told us that it may be broken. We then asked a different staff member and he said that someone’s been taking the ice every morning. They can easily add another machine because one ice machine for about 80+ rooms is not enough. When we asked the front desk guy if there was hot water he rudely told us to wait. When a different race person asked for hot water is answered then kindly. The staff here needs to be trained to not discriminate other races other then thyself.
That night when we came back we couldn’t get in the rooms because they were deactivated somehow. We had to walk to the front desk for them to tell us that it deactivated after one day and that it should’ve been active still. Shouldn’t they check the nights of stays before they give us a keycard. They need better organization skills.
The bed sheets and pillows were nasty. There were brown stains on 3 out of the six pillows we had. We were disgusted after we saw it and couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night.
Stay away from this place and find an Airbnb or something.
Grace M. West Lafayette, IN 12/31/2018 [1 star] A nightmare to stay!!!!!! So avoid this motel! This motel is freaky dirty! The sheets are bad smelling. When we tried to request clean sheets they said they don’t have extra sheets. The hostess was rude and unprofessional!
Henri S. Glendale, CA 11/15/2018 [1 star] Terrible staff do not stay here terrible they are scamming people and keeping 100$ for no reason when you leave deposit do not stay here bunch of scammers its sad when a place has to keep deposits to make money from a hotel and to keep it for no reason make bs and scam
Prople keep your money stay away Dennis Z. and 1 other voted for this review
Brandon M. Los Angeles, CA 10/19/2018 [1 star] A truly horrible experience. If you value your privacy, stay somewhere else. DO NOT BOOK THIS MOTEL. Tony P. voted for this review
Lily K. Ojai, CA 12/21/2018 [1 star] This hotel straight up stole my money. When I showed up for the room I booked/paid for already they told me they “gave my room away to someone else” and then never refunded me after claiming they would multiple times. Every single time I tried contacting them I was told “the manager can only process refunds and the manager is out.” When I asked when the manager would be in I was constantly told “I don’t know. She isn’t here often.” So their policy when giving a paid room away is to just steal the customers money? For real? WTF.
Some of the comments look more like reviews for Alfred Hitchcock’s Bates Motel than a hospitality establishment worthy of Glendale’s Rancho neighborhood:
Tony R. Sanford, Los Angeles, CA 12/31/2018 [1 star] Police Harassment and fresh blood on the curtains!
My husband and I recently stayed two nights at this motel. We stayed in room 111 on the nights of September 24th and 25th. We booked through the hoteltonight app. When we first arrived we were disappointed after the front desk operator said that there were no bathtubs in any of the rooms. We then were going to cancel the reservation and were told that it couldn’t be cancelled so we returned to the hotel and my husband asked a different desk operator if there was any bathtubs who replied that there was but we would have to upgrade and pay more. We paid the difference.
The next morning we were moving some things to our car and a police car pulled up behind us. They then proceeded to search our entire car that was filled with personal keepsakes and other belongings that we were moving to storage that morning. During the search of our room and car the police were scrutinizing my husbands prescription medications and asking him personal questions about his medical conditions. The male officer asked if we did drugs and we replied that we didn’t. He then asked why we would be staying at a hotel that only drug users stay and that we chose the wrong hotel. He also said that it was the kind of hotel that we needed to check the bed for used needles before getting in it.
The next morning on the 26th I was about to book the room for two more nights (for convenience) when I noticed bright red fresh looking blood splattered on the curtains. It horrified me and I decided we were checking out immediately.
I talked to Dan at the front desk and he took down my name and number and said the manager would be in to call me in the afternoon. I didn’t receive a call but I called later that day and talked to Andrew [Ed.-bold] who gave me an email address and advised me to send over the photographs and police info.
I asked for a full refund for the two nights we stayed because of the blood and it being highly insanitary. It really shocked me and made me sick to find. No reply and no refund DONT STAY HERE!
Comments for Glen Capri Inn & Suites are also unfavorable overall and similar to the comments about Glen Capri Motel.
Reviews for Glen Capri Inn & Suites-Winchester
M A. Elk Grove, CA 9/4/2018 [1 star] If I could leave 0 stars I would. The service is absolutely HORRIBLE here. The man in the front desk is rude and not helpful. The location of the motel is loud and disgusting. I would never stay here again. Worst place to stay in.
Mr C. Georgetown, TX 12/9/2016 [1 star] When I first checked in I saw a small cockroach. Not a good start. At around 11pm I heard people moving around above me. The floor was creaky. But I was able to fall asleep. At 1:45am the people above me started moving furniture or something! It didn’t stop. I banged on my ceiling. I called the front desk. I tried turning on the a/c to mask the sound, but the a/c wouldn’t stay on. I banged on the ceiling some more. Next time I called the front desk, they moved me to another room. This one smells like cigarettes. And it’s 3am now, and I can’t sleep because the people above are moving around!!!
And there are many similar comments not included here.
Now the operator of Glen Capri is looking to manage a 64-unit 3-story hotel in the Glendale Rancho, adjacent to R-1 residential properties and surrounded by R-1H residential equestrian properties. Despite the opinion of Design Review Board Chairman, Arthur Charchian that a hotel is something Glendale needs in the Rancho (expressed at the last DRB meeting), such establishments are not needed, and unwanted in the Rancho. It’s apparent that Glendale’s Community Development Department, directed by Philip Lanzafame, has failed to properly vet this project (especially in regard to traffic and environmental issues) before sending it on to the Design Review Board. Due to recent legal issues, Design Review Board Chairman, Arthur Charchian will not be at the upcoming January 10, 2019 meeting. The Design Review Board is expected to have only four members present.
On a more positive note, Design Review Board member Alen Malekian and others were not so easily swayed by the developer’s story that they are are building a “luxury hotel.” Mr. Malekian was absolutely correct to question the quality of the proposed development. Cramming 64 rooms on 1633 S. Victory Blvd., across the street from a liquor store, adjacent to a gas station and an alley, will NOT materialize into a “luxury hotel.” In an area that has previously dealt with the presence of prostitution, drugs, and street gangs, the approval of this project as currently designed could bring those problems back to the Rancho area. In consideration of the proposal’s proximity to Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, additional scrutiny of this project is required. Rancho citizens who want to express their concerns can reach out to our city officials at the email addresses below.
Ways you can help:
- Share your concerns now to planner Dennis Joe and Design Review Board contact Vilia Zemaitaitis. By U. S. mail: Planning Dept., 633 E. Broadway, Glendale 91206. Email “To” Dennis Joe DJoe@GlendaleCA.gov and Vilia Zemaitaitis VZemaitaitis@GlendaleCA.gov with “CC” Phillip Lanzafame PLanzafame@GlendaleCA.gov! To contact Dennis Joe by phone, you may call him at 818-548-8157.
- Sign the petition. We now have an online petition located in our right sidebar. Signatures of those opposed to the hotel development will be presented to the Design Review Board along with a recently circulated paper petition.
- Spread the word. Tell your friends, neighbors, and parents whose children attend Benjamin Franklin Elementary School. Post links to this site on your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts.
- Join our mailing list for more information, new posts, and development updates. You will be notified of the next DRB agenda for PDR 1723012, which you are urged to attend and speak (they’re held at 5 pm on 2nd and 4th Thursdays in Rm. 105).