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409 East Main Street in Bernham, TX has been a bed and breakfast before. Its owner/innkeeper, Connie, a friend from the Texas Bed and Breakfast Association (TBBA), had closed Ingleside B&B about the time we came to Brenham in early 2012. She was looking to sell; we were looking to expand our hospitality offerings. So, in 2016 we struck a deal and Main Street House Bend and Breakfast was created.
As president of the TBBA I had traveled around the state visiting members and their b&bs. Through that I learned there was no right way or wrong way to run a bed and breakfast, there was just "your way". So, Keith and I sat down and figured out what our way would be. At the time we were already owners of a larger boutique B&B in town which had its successes and struggles. We started with those struggles, added the guest trends we had seen and read about, and all those differnt ways I'd seen on how to do the same thing. What we came up with was "A Fresh Approach". What this meant to us was finding a way to blend the needs of the older "full service" travelers and the needs of the "self-service" younder travelers. So, we started an optional self-check in using coded entry doors. We created an open ckitchen concept which allowed guests to use the kitchen throughout their stay for snacks, leftovers, Blue Bell Ice Cream or a PB&J sandwich at midnight. Breakfast during the week was a casual self-serve continental, but on the weekends, we added hot made to order eggs and omelets. The rooms had king size platform beds which are easy to get in and out of. We added a deck out back with a ramp for luggage and guests with limited mobilty.
But the biggest fresh approach was the decor of this glorious 1920's home. As owners of an art gallery in town, we decided to design each room around a piece of original artowrk along with contemporary furnishings. This was a bold step in rural Texas where antique and western decor ruled. But, hey, if you're going to do somthing fresh, you must start with the foundation. The artwork guided the color choices in each room and those colors then flowed out into the common areas. The result was a bright cheerful space with a spirit of peace and hope. We still have a few spaces available for new artwork, and we fill them as we find pieces that speack to us - or the house.
As part of our decor in the kitchen, we added four words - reflect, refresh, relax and reconnect (we call them the 4Rs). They were inteneded to be a subtle daily blessing and encouragement to us, as well as our guests. A reminder that our lives are richer when we make room for these things in it. Over time, these words became our core hospitality values. As a result, MSH become known as a place of mindfulness, where guests can heal, create, grieve, laugh, think and play. Interestingly, in a post COVID-19 world they mean so much more than they used to. These words lead us to mindfulness, self-care, quiet moemnts, intentional connections and focused choices.
Milestones are important to any relationship or business. They provide a reason to celebrate and a time to evaluate. As we look back on the success of the first 10 years of Main Street House, we also look forward to the changing needs of our guests. With that in mind, we are shifting our brand from "A Fresh Approach" to "A Prescripton for Rest". A place where traveleres of all types come to experience rest by relaxing, reconnecting, refreshing and reflecting on their amazing, but sometimes difficult, journey of life. We hope our past, present and future guests continue to allow us the opportunity to be a part of their journey for many years to come.
May your days be full of true rest,
Suzy