In a previous blog, I introduced the Charlton House, a bed and breakfast opened in the late 60′s by two retired school teachers. They patterned this BnB after some of their favorites from summer backpack excursions through Europe. Ample breakfasts, shared baths down the hall and a collection of record albums for guests were the norm.
Well, after a little more than a decade of success in innkeeping, they sold the bed and breakfast in the mid-80s to two sisters. One was the resident innkeeper while the other had a job with a successful computer software company. While both enjoyed innkeeping, for one it was a hobby and investment…for the other, a full time job.
They promptly added color to the walls…lots of it. Seafoam green, peach, country blue, deep wine shades and forest green flowed throughout the bedrooms. Wallpaper was added. Stripes, flowers….wallpaper was popular, easy to clean and very trendy. Drapes adorned the windows and plush carpeting covered the floors. For entertainment, cassettes replaced vinyl, and then with the walkman, CD’s started to appear. Thanks to cable, guests watched TV in their room and could also choose one of the VHS tapes the innkeepers kept on hand.
The 80′s were all about Dallas….the tv show, that is. Everything was big…cars, guest rooms, beds, breakfasts, and yes hair….really really big hair. Our innkeepers replaced the full beds with queen size. They removed one guest room, remodeled and added a bath to every room. Bathrooms were ornate, with large mirrors (remember the big hair) oversized light fixtures and large gold plated bathroom fixtures. Parking was still an issue. Cars were big, and expensive…in fact, the bigger and more expensive the better. Guests were becoming a little health conscious. Equal was added to the table and Yogurt became a popular breakfast add on. The innkeepers added a small guest refrigerator stocked with Coca Cola and Tab…diet soft drinks had arrived. On top of the fridge they left a basket of goodies for guests, Doritos, and California Raisins (the commercial with claymation singing raisins was quite popular).
Special events were becoming popular. These innkeepers accommodated 2 small weddings, one family reunion as well as a “Who Shot J.R.” TV night. People liked meeting in their BnB. It was a warm, welcoming place for a gathering. After their first year, they added Murder Mystery Party weekends with much success.
Reservations were still taken by phone. Guest found the BnB from popular guidebooks, magazines and sometimes AAA. Credit cards were now a popular means of payment, but many people arrived, checkbook in hand. The new innkeepers required a one night’s deposit. The Charlton House had remodeled into an elegant little BnB and now they were quite popular. Reservations were a must on weekends and that one night’s deposit was important.
Guests expected privacy in their rooms, but enjoyed sharing success stories around the communal dining table. In the 80′s comparing cars, rings, fashion…well comparing just about anything was popular. Guests would start the morning with freshly brewed coffee, Coffee Mate and croissants. Breakfast casseroles had arrived and the innkeepers had a recipe box full of their favorites. Orange juice was Minute Maid and Apple juice was now a tasty alternative.
The owners were happy. In the 80′s guests were ready to spend and they enjoyed spending on travel. People from all over the country visited their city and they were truly welcoming the world at their doorstep. They took pride in spotlessly clean rooms, well placed guest amenities, as well as fresh ample breakfasts served with a warm, genuine smile. As with the previous owners, hospitality abounded. They were always available to answer a question, suggest a great hike or restaurant or add a bouquet of flowers or bottle of wine to the room for a special occasion.
Décor changes, foods change, styles change, but good hospitality is forever. Paint to wallpaper, TV to VHS, sugar to Equal, vinyl to cassette….remember some things never change. A warm greeting, welcoming smile, comfortable bed, fresh breakfast and genuine concern, never go out of style.
