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Kelly Bowden works in special education by day, but she is an innkeeper by night — and by morning, too.
Bowden opened her three-room bed and breakfast, the Rosen House Inn, in December 2011. She welcomes guests from around the world as well as Fort Worthians looking for an escape close to home.
“I love when people have breakfast at the table and find out they have something in common with somebody else they didn’t even know, from across the world, from across the states, to across just the state of Texas,” Bowden said.
Originally from New York, Bowden has found a home in the Fairmount Historic District. Her inn is located in a light yellow house with a wraparound porch.
She spoke with reporter McKinnon Rice about her dream come true.
The interview has been edited for clarity and space.
Contact information:
Website: rosenhouseinn.com
Facebook: facebook.com/rosenhousebb
Phone: 888-791-4850
Email: kbowden@rosenhouseinn.com
Address: 1714 S. Henderson St., Fort Worth, Texas 76110
McKinnon Rice: Can you tell me about your business and how it got started?
Kelly Bowden: All it takes is a dream first, right? I always wanted to own a bed and breakfast — here I am. When I was growing up, I actually helped at my neighbor’s bed and breakfast in upstate New York before I moved to Texas, and I’ve now been here 27 years. I love my neighborhood, and that’s the Fairmount Historic District. I was lucky enough to find a house that fit that bill right here in Fairmount. That’s how we got going.
Rice: How many rooms does the bed and breakfast have?
Bowden: We have three rooms online that you can see, and all of which have king beds in them because I found out that was very important to customers over time. I started with one king bed and then I had two queen rooms. Everybody was like, “Well, we want the king bed.” I was like, I think we’re changing beds.
Rice: Where are your guests typically from?
Bowden: All over. Currently, we just hosted some guests from Belgium. We get a lot of guests from England. There was some big article about Fort Worth a while ago, and so, we were talking to them, and they were like, “Did you see the article in London last year where they talked about how great Fort Worth was, and it’s better than Austin?” Well, a lot of British guests this year. It’s been fun. And then, of course, local people getting away. It’s your anniversary, it’s a birthday, that kind of stuff.
The inn is coated in trinkets and curiosities. “I’m a firm believer in all the crazy stuff,” Bowden said. “Why not enjoy it all?” (McKinnon Rice | Fort Worth Report)
Rice: What are some of the challenges that come with running a business like yours?
Bowden: First of all, I will tell you, I’m blessed with great staff, so staffing is never a problem for me. Challenges are people sometimes with reading policies, but that’s with any business and with any job, in my opinion.
Rice: What’s your favorite part of running your business?
Bowden: Meeting people from all walks of life. I love when people have breakfast at the table and find out they have something in common with somebody else they didn’t even know, from across the world, from across the states, to across just the state of Texas.
I love meeting people all the time. It’s my favorite. And I love that people can appreciate all the antiques that I have, because I have a lot of old stuff. Not everybody does!
Rice: I read something about a 6-foot pot rack on your website. Can you tell me more about that?
Bowden: I can! The kitchen has a pot rack that used to be in the Worth Hotel before it was torn down. It’s been there ever since. It’s pretty awesome. It’s a big ’un.
Rice: I also understand the house has survived two fires?
Bowden: Far as I know. That’s what I got on the history of the house. The last one was in 1985.
Rice: What do you anticipate for the future of your business?
Bowden: I’m going to keep doing this — because I also work full time as an educator, I work in special education — until I feel like I can’t do two jobs, I guess. Or maybe when I retire, maybe spend more time just right here.
Rice: How do you balance the two?
Bowden: First of all, I’m an early riser, which works out great for a bed and breakfast, in case you didn’t know. [laughs] And like I said, I have three great people who work with me, and I leave what I like to call my bed-and-breakfast lesson plans out for them each morning.
Rice: Is there anything else about your business I haven’t asked you that you think is important for people to know?
Bowden: I would love people to know that we’re only one of three bed and breakfasts left in the city of Fort Worth, and we have two other B&Bs who we absolutely love people to go to as well. I know one of them more than the other, but I think it’s important to know that bed and breakfasts are still around, and they’re a great option.
McKinnon Rice is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org.
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Great Job McKinnon Rice & the Team @ Fort Worth Report Source link for sharing this story.
