Manchester inn means business -- and class

By Sacha Pfeiffer, Globe Staff | March 17, 2007

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Note to boss: From now on, when I travel for work, don't expect me to submit receipts from any boring old hotels. Beginning today, it is bed-and-breakfast or bust.

Like many people, I tend to think of B&Bs as destinations for romantic getaways, not places to stay on the road for business. The Ash Street Inn has completely changed that mindset.

This classy urban inn, in a three-story Queen Anne Victorian, was a beauty in distress when Eric and Darlene Johnston bought it seven years ago. Built as a private home in 1885, it later became a rooming house, a hair salon, an art studio, and a dermatologist's office, all of which took their toll. By the time the Johnstons came on the scene, the decaying house had broken windows, asbestos siding, and a porch nearly devoured by carpenter ants. Gorgeous oak doors, stunning hardwood floors, ornamental woodwork, and breathtaking stained glass hinted at its original grandeur.

The Johnstons, refugees from the corporate world, had the time, taste, and money to restore that glory. Photo albums in the lovely first-floor sitting room -- where a fireplace and brandy beckon guests to stay a while -- chronicle the massive renovation project they undertook. Whole sections of the interior were gutted, wiring and plumbing were updated, siding was removed to reveal original shingling, and a new kitchen and bathrooms were installed. Five rooms on the first and second floors were turned into guest bedrooms, while the third floor became the couple's private living area. The results are deeply impressive.

Ever wonder how much a renovation of that magnitude costs? Brace yourselves. According to the Johnstons, they bought the house for $175,000 and spent another $500,000 renovating it. When the inn finally opened, the couple (who faced $6,500 in fixed monthly bills for their mortgage, renovation loans, taxes, utilities, and other expenses) aimed to recoup their costs by renting all five rooms nightly. Imagine their dismay when, in the inn's early days, between four and seven rooms were occupied -- per month. Eventually, though, business began humming.

So why has the Ash Street Inn prompted me to seek out B&Bs when I am traveling for business? Because it offers the comfort, sophistication, and elegance of a high-end hotel, as well as the charm and intimacy of a small country inn.

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