Mike and Wanda Jarchow decided not to make it a full-service bed and breakfast when they learned what the title entails.
"It’s not worth the kind of money it would take, so we’ll just do most of what we wanted," Mike said. "We put a lot of thought into it, and it was a little bit of a letdown."
The large staircase in the historic 515 N. Estey home provides one of its main attractions. Ironically, the staircase that winds through four floors poses a problem in the eyes of the fire marshal.
That doesn’t mean the home is unsafe, fire-prone or that it won’t be available for overnight stays.
"After the second floor, you get into a different category," Mike said. "The marshal said we could just as well have an 18-floor hotel with the regulations we’d have to meet."
According to inspectors, the stairs could provide a path for fire to draft upwards in the event of a fire.
In order to earn the bed and breakfast designation, the Jarchows would have to put heavy doors at each floor or install a sprinkler system, both of which would compromise the historical integrity of the home.
"It’s an accumulation of things," Mike said. "The issue is the quantity of rooms and the number of floors. … The health codes for actually cooking food in a building like this change."
The Jarchows will continue to serve a continental breakfast, and occupants can cook in the kitchens within their suites as well.
The number of rental units in the home (the Jarchow residence, five apartments and three suites) could slip the home into a commercial designation and would put heavier requirements on operations.
The Jarchows still look forward to operating the business together. Marketing will have to be altered to make up for not being listed in bed and breakfast publications.
Ranging from $65 to $85 a night, the fully-furnished suites are described in the brochure as "Perfect for romantic weekends and honeymoons. A great gift idea for anniversaries and special occasions. A special treat for family and friends passing through."
You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.