KINGSTON — Smiley’s Motel has been a Kingston fixture since 1945, and though not as grand as, say, the Hilton or the Edgewater, it matched the Little City By the Sea in size and community.

When the Powar family purchased the State Route 104 business in 2004 years ago, they didn’t alter much.

But as time passed they felt it was time for a change, if not in the the building itself, at least the name. This week, Smiley’s Motel raised its new sign, officially renaming the business the Blue Water Inn.

“We painted the motel blue, and I just made the name up,” said Sheila Powar. “Originally, we wanted the Kingston Inn, until we realized that was definitely taken. The Blue Water Inn was a unique name, and it’s the only one in the state so far.”

The Powars and other Kingston residents view this change as the next step in a long history of upgrades. The Smiley family was constantly adding on to the motel to improve its amenities, switching things around in an effort to draw in business.

“I think it’s a fine thing the they are doing,” said Kingston Port Commissioner and long-time resident Pete DeBoer. “I mean, they are new owners. It’s not really Smiley any more. They’re very nice folks, and it’s a good change for Kingston.”