Jerry Saia is working on a bit of an irony.

The new owner of the Coupeville Inn is working on modernizing some rooms at the hotel so they feel like a step back in time.

Saia said he plans to decorate several of the rooms in honor of historical figures from Coupeville’s past. Guests may be able to stay, for example, in the Capt. Lovejoy or Isaac Ebey rooms.

Saia, a former real estate developer from California, purchased the NW Coveland Street inn from the Dutcher family this summer. The attractive building, across the street from the post office, was built in 1984.

Saia has never been involved in the lodging business before, but has big plans for renovating the business.

“It’s like a jewel in the rough,” he said. “It’s a matter of getting it up to speed.”

Some of the changes were immediate. He’s renovated an attractive “beach suite,” complete with a kitchen and a sitting room. He’s in the process of renovating a two-bedroom apartment into a second suite.

The inn’s continental breakfast, long known for fresh-baked fruit muffins, has been extended to include various other tasty items.

Other changes will take awhile. Saia plans to remodel 10 rooms with views of Penn Cove. They will be redecorated with historical or nautical themes.

“It’s going to be a long process,” he said. “We can’t do much during the season.”

The landscaping, Saia said, will be re-done to make the grounds more attractive. And he’s even having the beautiful hand-made sign repainted.

“The whole place is going to get re-done in time,” he said.

Saia, who moved to Coupeville in 1982, said he wants the updated Coupeville Inn to contribute to the business climate in the town.

Also, he hopes that word-of-mouth advertising will bring him plenty of customers. He was surprised to learn that many long-time residents have never been inside the inn.

He invites people to stop by and look around. It’s a great place, he said, to have family, friends and other visitors stay.