January 14, 2008
Home base | A chat with Micki Schumacher, co-founder of The Young House Bed & Breakfast in Millinocket.
Founded: May 2007
Startup costs: $320,000
Employees: Schumacher, plus her husband, Fred, part-time
Projected revenue, year one: $25,000
Projected revenue, year two: $40,000
Contact: 723-5452
193 Central St., Millinocket 04462
www.theyounghousebandb.com
How would you describe the business?
It was one of the big houses that was built in Millinocket at the beginning of the 1900s. It was built by the first druggist in town, so it was well built because he could afford to do that. We've got five bedrooms and bathrooms and it's homey. It is [a] sit-down-and-play-cards-and-have-your-breakfast-and-play-the-piano [kind of place].
What made you decide to open an inn?
We always stayed at bed and breakfasts when we traveled and we thought, "What an interesting job that would be." That you get to meet a lot of interesting people and you're your own boss in a way ˆ I mean, you still have your guests to consider.
We both worked for corporate America and we had stressful jobs, so after staying at a couple of [bed and breakfasts], we thought, "We could do this." We're friendly people and my husband is a great cook, and I bake and I love to decorate.
How did you prepare?
We had a five-year plan. We thought, "We'll continue to work, we'll save our money." We knew that we wanted to leave Florida. That's where we were living. We actually were looking at a bed and breakfast to purchase in Millinocket and it wasn't right for us.
So instead we bought a small house [here] to use as a vacation place. And when we got back to Florida we decided that we actually wanted to live up here. So we moved. Then while we were living up in the little house, our realtor who sold us that house kept encouraging us to look at The Young House. We finally came to look at it and we decided that it would be a perfect bed and breakfast. We bought it and we sold the little house.
What led you to Millinocket?
We really just loved the area. We loved what it looked like, we loved being able to see Mount Katahdin, and the pine everywhere and how it was a small town. The place where we came from in Florida was so overcrowded and [there was] so much traffic and so much noise and crime.
Now, we always knew we could never afford to live on the coast. When I looked for places to buy, there were bed and breakfasts on the coast that were for sale that were like five or six times as much as what the place was that we came to look at here.
And this area, with the mountain and the park and the Appalachian Trail and all the things there are to do, with the white water rafting and the cross country skiing and the snowmobiling. On the coast, it's really a summer place. Here, you can be in business all year long.
Where are your customers from?
We've had a lot of people from the Boston area, New York, we've had some people from Germany and England. Business-wise, the hospital here has sent us several people, the [Katahdin Paper] mill has sent us people, Brookfield Power has sent us people that are here for business trips.
How do visitors find out about the bed and breakfast?
We have had some referrals because other places were full or because we would do a one-night reservation whereas some of the more established places require a two-night minimum stay. We also are listed with our chamber of commerce and I know they have offered us as a suggestion. We are also located on some of the bed and breakfast websites.
The town has been very supportive. When we first opened, we had an open house for the town. We invited everybody, had an ad in the paper, and we had food and drink. But it was amazing that people came to look at the house. They didn't come to eat. They wanted to see what we did with it, and had we preserved it, because so many people have a connection to this place.
The town being behind us has helped and we have gotten referrals that way, too, because people have said, "Oh, well, we have this new bed and breakfast in town. You ought to stay there."
Interview by Kerry Elson
Startup costs: $320,000
Employees: Schumacher, plus her husband, Fred, part-time
Projected revenue, year one: $25,000
Projected revenue, year two: $40,000
Contact: 723-5452
193 Central St., Millinocket 04462
www.theyounghousebandb.com
How would you describe the business?
It was one of the big houses that was built in Millinocket at the beginning of the 1900s. It was built by the first druggist in town, so it was well built because he could afford to do that. We've got five bedrooms and bathrooms and it's homey. It is [a] sit-down-and-play-cards-and-have-your-breakfast-and-play-the-piano [kind of place].
What made you decide to open an inn?
We always stayed at bed and breakfasts when we traveled and we thought, "What an interesting job that would be." That you get to meet a lot of interesting people and you're your own boss in a way ˆ I mean, you still have your guests to consider.
We both worked for corporate America and we had stressful jobs, so after staying at a couple of [bed and breakfasts], we thought, "We could do this." We're friendly people and my husband is a great cook, and I bake and I love to decorate.
How did you prepare?
We had a five-year plan. We thought, "We'll continue to work, we'll save our money." We knew that we wanted to leave Florida. That's where we were living. We actually were looking at a bed and breakfast to purchase in Millinocket and it wasn't right for us.
So instead we bought a small house [here] to use as a vacation place. And when we got back to Florida we decided that we actually wanted to live up here. So we moved. Then while we were living up in the little house, our realtor who sold us that house kept encouraging us to look at The Young House. We finally came to look at it and we decided that it would be a perfect bed and breakfast. We bought it and we sold the little house.
What led you to Millinocket?
We really just loved the area. We loved what it looked like, we loved being able to see Mount Katahdin, and the pine everywhere and how it was a small town. The place where we came from in Florida was so overcrowded and [there was] so much traffic and so much noise and crime.
Now, we always knew we could never afford to live on the coast. When I looked for places to buy, there were bed and breakfasts on the coast that were for sale that were like five or six times as much as what the place was that we came to look at here.
And this area, with the mountain and the park and the Appalachian Trail and all the things there are to do, with the white water rafting and the cross country skiing and the snowmobiling. On the coast, it's really a summer place. Here, you can be in business all year long.
Where are your customers from?
We've had a lot of people from the Boston area, New York, we've had some people from Germany and England. Business-wise, the hospital here has sent us several people, the [Katahdin Paper] mill has sent us people, Brookfield Power has sent us people that are here for business trips.
How do visitors find out about the bed and breakfast?
We have had some referrals because other places were full or because we would do a one-night reservation whereas some of the more established places require a two-night minimum stay. We also are listed with our chamber of commerce and I know they have offered us as a suggestion. We are also located on some of the bed and breakfast websites.
The town has been very supportive. When we first opened, we had an open house for the town. We invited everybody, had an ad in the paper, and we had food and drink. But it was amazing that people came to look at the house. They didn't come to eat. They wanted to see what we did with it, and had we preserved it, because so many people have a connection to this place.
The town being behind us has helped and we have gotten referrals that way, too, because people have said, "Oh, well, we have this new bed and breakfast in town. You ought to stay there."
Interview by Kerry Elson
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