LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Innkeepers at Sea Witch; Exhausted and Energized! |
by Fay Jacobs |
The Sea Witch Manor Inn Bed & Breakfast on Lake Avenue has new owners and a whole new personality. Inez Conover and Kathleen Bailey bought the place in September and brought with them almost 20 years experience in antique sales, marketing and environmentally friendly business practices. Now that the place is the only B&B named by Delaware Today readers as the perfect honeymoon hide-a-way, and now that it's been filling up off-season as well as in the summertime, and now that the innkeepers are head over heels into adding amenities, there's been a whirlwind of activity at the Sea Witch. "It's more work than I thought it would be," admits Inez, who serves as innkeeper 24/7. "But I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying the work and the guests. An admitted "clean freak," Inez keeps the place spotless, and concentrates on spiffing up the accommodations ("we've added fireplaces in all the rooms") and overseeing extensive back yard renovations to include a multi-level deck, slate patio and sunken hot tub. While Inez holds the fort during the week, Kathleen returns to Washington, D.C. where she works for the Environmental Protection Agency. On weekends, much of the Sea Witch baking is her responsibility, along with keeping the place "green" and environmentally friendly. Kathleen serves breakfast, while Inez, who specializes in delicacies like Crme Brulle French Toast, is the chef. "Before we moved, we practiced making breakfast for our friends," says Inez. "Now, it's amazing, but our friends often show up to visit us here at Sea Witch at breakfast time." Coincidence? Inez and Kathleen brought their style, warm hospitality and decades of experience with antiques along with them when they made the Sea Witch their new home. No stranger to Victoriana or antiques, Inez and Kathleen spent 18 years collecting and selling antiques, including owning an antique shop in New Market, Maryland. Now, in addition to the bed and breakfast traditions, the Sea Witch is filled with Victorian antiques, all for sale. "If our guests love the furnishings and accessories, they can buy anything they see," says Kathleen, "except the puppies." The puppies are Xena and Rudy, two feisty terriers (part Bichon, part King Charles Spaniels) who are thrilled with the constant flow of company and available guest laps. "They take their jobs as innkeepers seriously," says Kathleen. "If people like dogs, Rudy and Xena love spending time with them." For the seven years before making this career and residential move, Kathleen and Inez weekended here in Rehoboth. First they had a mobile home and then moved to a large home on Herring Creek. Now they've traded their waterfront site for the in-town Sea Witchso they can combine their love of antiques, cooking and hospitality. Known by their friends for their large and terrific parties, Inez and Kathleen will see that the Sea Witch is available for weddings, commitment ceremonies, birthday celebrations and all manner of special occasions. "We've got a very comfortable, upscale atmosphere. We'll have an afternoon English Tea barand special English chocolatesalso available for sale. In fact, the innkeepers encourage people to stop by the Sea Witch and browse through the antique-filled entryway, and living and dining areas, checking out the hundreds of antique collectibles, accessories, paintings, vintage jewelry and art. "We just bought a hand-made Mahogany half-canopy for one king-size bed. Of course, it's not an antique, because it's for a king size, but it's a marvelous reproduction style," Kathleen says, explaining that it was delivered at 10:30 one night by it's prior owner. "It wouldn't fit through the door of the bedroom, so we had to cut it in half (and seamlessly repair it!) to get it in. But it's an amazing headboard and canopy." Both Inez and Kathleen are exhausted and energized at the same time with their new venture and the experiences they've had running the Sea Witch. "I'm enjoying the guests at least as much...no, more than I thought I would," says Kathleen. And it's been a great mix of people." "We've had absolutely no issue with sexualityour clientele is a great mix of gay and straight guests. In fact, it's been like the world should be everywhere," says Inez, describing a breakfast table recently where a black couple, white couple, gay, straight, young and not so young... an eclectic mix, sat gabbing all morning long. As for the building itself, it's a recent vintage Victorian-style home that was once a decorator show house. Some of the rooms still sport vestiges from show house murals in the closets. But otherwise, it's Victoriana all the way. From antique sideboards to gourmet waffles, the Sea Witch innkeepers are delighted to be downtown and bringing all their interests together under one peaked and gabled roof. Inez, Kathleen, Xena and Rudy invite readers to stop by and say hello, check out the antiques, lodging, and gifts at their new home at 71 Lake Avenue, just off Rehoboth Avenue. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 12, No. 01, February 1, 2002. |