Today we’d like to introduce you to Virginia Carstarphen.
Virginia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
We had lived in Lakeview for five years running our other business, Trader Todd’s. We noticed a trend of buildings being purchased and torn down in the neighborhood. It was disappointing to see these beautiful, historic buildings turning into plain, mid-rises. One day a regular walked into Trader Todd’s and told us his family was about to sell a building a few doors down.
We asked if we could take a look before they listed the building. It was a gorgeous greystone building built in 1901. We fell in love with it and put down an offer that was accepted. We wanted to find a way to sustain the greystone building, so we decided to start a bed and breakfast.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Thankfully, due to the location near Wrigley Field, and partnering with bedandbreakfast.com, we were quickly able to get the Old Chicago Inn on its feet. However, there are many challenges associated with a building built in 1901. While rich with history and perfect for our theme, it needs a lot of care. Every year we make consistent maintenance and renovations as a labor of love to keep it going for another 100 years.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Old Chicago Inn – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The idea to start the Old Chicago Inn began as a history project. We want to give people the experience of what it was like to live in old Chicago. The Old Chicago Inn is a 10-room bed and breakfast on the North Side of Chicago featuring a speakeasy, Room 13. It’s a great space to relax in between vacation days and exploring the city.
The Old Chicago Inn is a doorway back in time to experience the rich, nostalgic history of Chicago’s younger days. What adds to the experience are all of the working authentic antiques hidden throughout the building, each with their own story.
Pricing:
- $135-165 per night
Contact Info:
- Address: 3222 N. Sheffield Ave. Chicago, IL 60657
- Website: http://www.oldchicagoinn.com/
- Phone: (773)472-2278
- Email: innkeeper@oldchicagoinn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/room13chicago/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldChicagoInn/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/old-chicago-inn-chicago
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
