You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 5:57 a.m.

New owners of bed and breakfast on Washtenaw Avenue plan to overhaul business

By Lizzy Alfs

See All Thumbnails

The Vitosha Guest Haus Inn on Ann Arbor’s Washtenaw Avenue is getting a facelift after the property was sold in July.

Lana Hawkins and her husband, Mike Soltis, purchased the four-building bed and breakfast at 1917 Washtenaw Ave. and they changed the name of the business to Stone Chalet Bed & Breakfast Inn. They plan to make repairs, renovate the buildings and create an events destination. “We love old houses,” Hawkins said. “We love to restore old things, so we thought this might be something cool for us to do.”

“We’re continuing to run it as a bed and breakfast, and we’re going to improve it,” she continued. “We think of it as a diamond in the rough. It has kind of been neglected maintenance-wise.”

Initially a private, historic house that later served as a Unitarian church, Kei J. Constantinov converted the buildings to a 10-bedroom, 32-person capacity bed and breakfast in 1999. The buildings have historic character, and the bed and breakfast is decorated English cottage style, Hawkins said.

lana_hawkins_stone_chalet.jpg

Lana Hawkins and Mike Soltis pose for a photo in front of the Stone Chalet Bed and Breakfast Inn. The pair recently purchased the property and are working to make improvements.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

The property has a 2013 assessed value of $684,400 and city records show Hawkins and Soltis purchased it for $800,000.

“It seems to be a pretty viable business; I’m happy about that,” Hawkins said. “The place already has a good reputation and people know about it, so we want to let people know that we have new, friendly people in there taking care of it and wanting to help out the neighborhood.”

Before moving to Stone Chalet, Hawkins and Soltis lived across Washtenaw Avenue from the property. They also own a student housing rental company, University-Places, with six rental houses near University of Michigan’s campus.

Plans for Stone Chalet, Hawkins said, include making major repairs to the buildings’ plumbing, roof and electrical service. They are redoing the landscaping on the property and plan to have a big garage sale to sell certain items from the bed and breakfast. They also plan to improve the rooms, she said.

“We’re going to do some things to the window treatments and put bigger beds (in the rooms),” Hawkins said. “I don’t think we want to change the character too much, but we’re going to change it and make improvements and try to be competitive with the market.”

What was previously operating as the Pinocchio Theatre under the bed and breakfast’s former owner will become a small events center for parties of 100 people or less, Hawkins said. The events space is 2,800 square feet and Hawkins said it could be used for graduation parties, weddings or any other event.

She hopes renovations will be completed on the events space by January, and major repairs to the four buildings will be finished in the next couple months. Hawkins declined to reveal how much they will be investing in the property.

Hawkins said she believes the bed and breakfast is busiest during the summer and football weekends. She said it attracts business travelers, people affiliated with U-M, parents visiting their children and even couples on their honeymoon.

“We get quite a variety of really interesting people,” she said.

The pricing structure at Stone Chalet hasn’t changed since Hawkins and Soltis took ownership, but Hawkins said they plan to reevaluate it in the coming months. September room rates are being advertised for $149 to $159 per night.


View Larger Map

Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.

Comments

jodytull

Sun, Sep 8, 2013 : 4:56 p.m.

This is the coolest place to stay walkable to the University of Michigan campus, with interesting history, beautiful decor and easy access to everything in and around A2. Best of all are Innkeepers, Lana and Mike who are warm, fun-loving and really knowledgable about Ann Arbor life. Check it out!!

Vivienne Armentrout

Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 4:26 p.m.

I am familiar with this building from its old days as the Unitarian Church. Some community events were held there and I once attended a wedding in the meeting space. Question: what are the parking and traffic implications to making this an event location? Perhaps that was already taken care of in its earlier uses. This is right on/in a residential neighborhood, so impact considerations are meaningful.

Halter

Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 11:27 a.m.

Um, not for nothing, its already been used for the past half decade for events and theater up to 100 people with no parking issues. Sheesh, its like all of Kei's work just disappeared in this article. No wonder she moved out of Ann Arbor.

treetowncartel

Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 7:58 p.m.

I'm thinking they could make a deal with the Synagogue just down the road if their lot is available, and hire a valet service, tie it into the pricing.

Blazingly Busy

Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 3:26 p.m.

Good Luck Mike and Lana! I look forward to getting a tour one of these days. A

Molly Jean

Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 3:13 p.m.

I'm glad to hear this! I used to make reservations at the Vitosha as part of my job. The place was great, but we had so many issues with the owner, we decided to stop using the place altogether. It would be nice to add them back into our list of available B&Bs!

Ann23

Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 1:31 a.m.

This place is beautiful. When it comes to a bed and breakfast, the owners and managers can make all the difference.

A2centsworth

Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 2:52 p.m.

Good luck! It is a beautiful respite for not only travelers, but locals who want to get away for the weekend!

Lizzy Alfs

Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 1:21 p.m.

I wish I knew about this place when I lived in Sigma Kappa just a block away. I had family come visit that could have stayed at Vitosha, but I never knew it was there!

gsorter

Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 11:35 a.m.

Best of luck to Lana and Mike. I can't think of better operators for this place!

Lana Hawkins

Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 1:31 a.m.

Thanks Greg! We appreciate that.

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

© 2013 MLive Media Group All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of MLive Media Group