Arks
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- May 22, 2010
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For anyone interested in following the progress of my little Arkansas guest house, here's the latest:
Downstairs has been remodeled to look "modern" and been used for various little shops until the last one closed about a year ago. The architect and I plan to restore the front facade to it's 1895 appearance.
Indeed, the fun is about to begin. I leave Sunday for a 3-day aspiring innkeeper seminar on the other side of the state.
My current concept, a notion foreign to many of you, I know, is a guest house with no on-site staff between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. We'll have staff on-site 7 a.m.-11 p.m. running the convenience store and guest house.
Originally I'd planned on supplying vouchers to the café across the street to handle breakfast, but now I'm thinking that if I can get some guests to go for a continental breakfast, I can save some money by not having to pay the café. I'd still offer the voucher if they want a hot meal, but also offer, in-house, muffins from the bakery next door, cold cereal and milk, a pot of coffee, a pot of hot water for making tea and instant oatmeal, bread and a toaster, jellies, etc., all put out by the convenience store staff shortly after they arrive at 7 a.m. This light breakfast may appeal to people needing to leave early, and some women who don't want a big breakfast. The men, on the other hand, will probably head to the café!
I'm planning to offer picnic baskets prepared by the store staff, and a to-go breakfast box, left with them the night before, for anybody needing to leave before 7 a.m.
Lots of other ideas, but this is getting wordy!
- My offer has been accepted on the oldest commercial building in our town, a brick 2-story with original old wavy-glass windows, over 5000 sq. ft., built 1895. The old building is right on the town square. Guest rooms in the front will look out at our ornate old 1875 courthouse and guest rooms in the back will have a view of the river that flows by town. Should be a nice setting.
- Talked with the bank this morning. They love my business plan and said they're happy to loan me all the money I need.
- Hoping to complete the property purchase process in the next few weeks.
- Architect has done a walk through of the old building and thinks it will be a fun project. He says there's room for four large jacuzzi suites, a sauna and worlds of storage upstairs, and one suite downstairs, plus the 7 a.m.-11 p.m. convenience store I'm putting downstairs, a dining area and other public areas (public restroom and lots of storage, a kitchen, etc.). There's also a good-sized inner-block courtyard in the back that will be a great place to barbecue and relax.
Downstairs has been remodeled to look "modern" and been used for various little shops until the last one closed about a year ago. The architect and I plan to restore the front facade to it's 1895 appearance.
Indeed, the fun is about to begin. I leave Sunday for a 3-day aspiring innkeeper seminar on the other side of the state.
My current concept, a notion foreign to many of you, I know, is a guest house with no on-site staff between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. We'll have staff on-site 7 a.m.-11 p.m. running the convenience store and guest house.
Originally I'd planned on supplying vouchers to the café across the street to handle breakfast, but now I'm thinking that if I can get some guests to go for a continental breakfast, I can save some money by not having to pay the café. I'd still offer the voucher if they want a hot meal, but also offer, in-house, muffins from the bakery next door, cold cereal and milk, a pot of coffee, a pot of hot water for making tea and instant oatmeal, bread and a toaster, jellies, etc., all put out by the convenience store staff shortly after they arrive at 7 a.m. This light breakfast may appeal to people needing to leave early, and some women who don't want a big breakfast. The men, on the other hand, will probably head to the café!
I'm planning to offer picnic baskets prepared by the store staff, and a to-go breakfast box, left with them the night before, for anybody needing to leave before 7 a.m.
Lots of other ideas, but this is getting wordy!