The Cleveland Hostel, which recently opened on West 25th Street south of Lorain Ave., is not your grandfather’s youth hostel. This contemporary take on the classic hostel is a perfect blend of old and new that aims to lure international travelers to Ohio City.

Exhibit One: The View. At the recent grand opening party, the hostel’s roof deck was packed with guests, young and old, drinking, merrymaking and goggling at the sunset. Why wouldn’t they? The tiptop of the building offers a breathtaking view of the city.  

Since January 30th, drills and saws have buzzed in the rooms above Campbell's Sweets Factory, just one block south of the West Side Market. Now, Cleveland's first modern hostel has finally opened its doors. It began accepting travelers just a few weeks ago.  

Lifelong northeast Ohioan and seasoned international traveler Mark Raymond is the quiet powerhouse behind the project, the location for which took a year and a half to find. The 30-year-old Geneva, Ohio native considered spaces on Columbus Road, Lorain Ave. and Franklin Blvd. before setting his sights on the classic century building. He chose it largely because of the W. 25th Street social scene and proximity to the Market.

"There are thousands of hostels around the world in many other cities big and small, but this is something Cleveland hasn't had before," says Raymond. "This is the first one."

The facility offers 60 beds for let starting at $20 per night. The 10,000-square-foot space features three stories, with the storefront lobby, bike rental and one handicap-accessible bedroom and bath on the first floor. The second story houses the main living area, which features six large shared-space rooms with bunk beds. Three of the rooms have attached baths and four shared baths dot the corridor. As is customary in hostels, one of the shared-space rooms will be designated for women only on an as-needed basis. A coin-operated guest laundry, lounge area and fully equipped kitchen round out the floor.

"The average tourist goes to the Market, gets a bratwurst or falafel, walks around and leaves," says Raymond. "When they're staying here, they can act like a local and interact with the vendors, come back to the hostel, start cooking and share some good food." And, quite possibly, make a new friend in Cleveland who hails from across the globe.

Eight private rooms, three of which feature private baths, as well as three shared baths fill one half of the third floor with Raymond's private residential apartment occupying the rest of the space along with the "15th guestroom," which has no windows.

Skylights? Check. WiFi? Got it. As for quirk, guests will find a telephone booth available for its original intended use (privacy) but for Skype conversations instead of the archaic landline sort. Original exposed brick walls and massive wooden structural beams lend themselves to the everything-old-is-new-again feel that applies to the building and surrounding neighborhood. The facility is completely smoke free. Guests are free to enjoy self-provided beer and wine, as long as they keep the party polite.

If that’s not enough, the view is the dealmaker.

"This is by far the best part of the hostel," says Raymond, stepping onto the roof. "This view never gets old." And he has no intention of keeping the stunning panorama under wraps.

The rooftop patio is outfitted with power, water and cable. An arbor offer shades while chaise lounges are available for sun worshippers. It's a perfect spot for vicarious entertainment during a Progressive Field fireworks show or the Labor Day Air Show at Burke Lakefront Airport. Raymond eventually hopes to plant a roof garden, "to green it up a little bit.” He also intends to host community events here, including music and speakers, "so that the guests can connect."

He's already fielded plenty of local volunteers. "A lot of people from the neighborhood come up here and ask, 'How can we come up here and use this?'"

Those fretting over Raymond's for-profit project turning into a redux of the Jay Motel can rest assured that the proprietor has no intention of letting that happen. After all, he's stayed in hostels at points across the globe and he knows what works. He cites the Northwest Portland Hostel as the model for his own hometown venture.

"It's an awesome place," says Raymond. "It's what keyed me in to wanting to start a hostel." But what specifics garner such praise? "It's the simple things," he explains. "First of all, it's just a very well run place. It's laid out well. They're not trying to cram too many people in." Clean bathrooms, green spaces and proximity to authentic local color add to the appeal—much like the Ohio City environs.

Make no mistake, the Cleveland Hostel will cater to up-and-up travelers. Check in will end by 10 p.m. and if need be, Raymond may adopt rules such as requiring guests to make online reservations like Hostel Detroit does. Some facilities go so far as to only allow guests with international passports or proof of residence outside the county.

"The less rules the better," says Raymond, "but you have to do certain things to protect the hostel." And what if someone from Germany walks in with a backpack or if a bus is late? "We'll take it on a case by case basis," says Raymond.

But the most convincing testimony to the project's success comes from Raymond himself. After all, this isn't just a business venture.

"I'll be living here," he says. "If I had major concerns I wouldn't be doing this."

But will they come? Combine Raymond's irrepressible vision, his personal network of international hostel travelers and the intrinsic appeal of Ohio City and success seems inevitable. To that end, he's fielded good wishes, offers of help and a feeling of excitement from area businesses and even people he barely knows.

"There's been a lot of positive support," says Raymond. "It brings a different vibe to a place--to have someone staying here from a different country. It brings in a different feeling. It'll be pretty exciting to welcome the first travelers here."