Toledo Hospital buys Westowne Tennis Club

9/17/2005

Westowne Tennis Club in West Toledo has been sold to Toledo Hospital, but the club s owner said he s leasing the facility back and will keep it open through at least next year.

There will be no change in operations. They re just the landlords, said Mark Willingham, who sold the club to Toledo Hospital earlier this month for $2.1 million.

Mr. Willingham, a tennis pro who teaches at the facility, said his business has grown to the point where he ll need a bigger building, and he intends to eventually open a larger club somewhere else in the Toledo area. However, for now he said business will continue as usual at the 600-member facility and it will be open this winter, next summer ,and next winter and possibly longer than that.

Toledo Hospital is owned by ProMedica Health System, which also owns Wildwood Medical Center, located directly east of the club along Reynolds Road.

Bob Kolodgy, senior vice president of strategic business development for ProMedica, said his organization purchased the club to give Wildwood, located on 9.6 acres, room to expand. He said ProMedica has no immediate plans for the 5.9-acre lot that the club sits on.

Toledo-based Gross Electric has its headquarters adjacent to Wildwood. Laurie Gross, president of the company, said she discussed selling her land to ProMedica about three years ago.

I have no intention of selling, she said.