How It's Done:
NEON SIGNS
Grainger Everyday Heroes: Innkeepers
By Grainger Editorial Staff 8/3/20
Meet Bernardine and Dave Anderson, co-owners of the Stillman Inn, a bed and breakfast in Galena, Illinois. See how they prepare guest rooms and a home-cooked breakfast to make their guests feel right at home.
Bernardine: A mansion like this is an ongoing [work in] process. Whenever you're done [fixing one area] you look around the corner and something else is rotted or needs to be painted again, that's just the way it is [when you own a mansion like this].
Dave: My name is Dave Anderson, and this is my beautiful bride, Bernadine. We're the proud owners of the Stillman Inn in Galena, Illinois. It's a bed and breakfast.
Bernardine: On a typical day, we wake up at about 6:30, and we put the coffee on by 8:00 as we start preparing breakfast for everybody. This is where we make breakfast. Everything is homemade right here. Each order is prepared individually and [the food is] voted on by the guests. We take polls on everything, and the guests just want a home-cooked meal after eating out in the evening.
We have two rooms on the main floor that are handicap accessible. [These are] luxury rooms with whirlpools and easy-to-enter showers and tubs. On the second floor, we have five guest rooms. We just opened the third floor penthouse suite which is just lovely.
Dave: You're looking at a guy who just loves what he does. I love working with my hands, I love meeting guests, taking care of them and making it a place that we'd like to go. [We make] it friendly because that's what we are. I think as long as we follow that rule, we'll [be successful].
Bernardine: I feel like we're on top of it now. Everything has been touched, every corner has been painted, everything has been done. How nice a feeling that is to have done this together and to look at it now, step back and say, wow, we've done an incredible job here.
The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current. This article is not a substitute for review of current applicable government regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business and/or activities and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney.
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