The innkeepers say that they speak English, French and Portuguese "with enough Spanish and Italian to get by." Greg App owns the circa 1900 inn, which is located on the northern edge of the French Quarter and within walking distance of Bourbon Street and many other local landmarks.
Benjamin Hatfield, manager of Victorian House, answered some questions for us.
Victorian House
914 N. Rampart
New Orleans, Louisiana
Tell us a little about your inn's history.
Our building was built in 1900 on the site of two earlier Creole cottages. Some time in the 1920's it was licensed as a "rooming house", which because of the recent closure of the Storyville red light district, we assume it became a "sporting house" according to local lore.
Why did you decide to open a B&B in New Orleans?
Mr. App is from New Orleans and I have lived here since 1968. Mr. App took over the inn after it had been in decline and restored it. He is committed to the rebuilding of the great city.
What are some of your inn's unique features?
Each room in the house is individually decorated and furnished with antique but "modernized" bathrooms. All rooms have flat-screen televisions with DVD players and we have a collection of New Orleans movies to lend to our guests.
What are some of the attractions in your area that guests seem to enjoy the most?
We are in the French Quarter, one of the most historic and interesting neighborhoods in the country. We are also within walking distance of the central business district and the historic Marigny section of town.
Which is your personal favorite guestroom at your bed and breakfast?
My personal favorite is the Chelsea room on the second floor. It is a large room and I think probably the quietest in the house.
What other rooms do guests seem to enjoy?
The guests enjoy hanging out in either the small front parlour where they have computer access, the large back parlour where breakfast is served, or especially on nice mornings and evenings in the enclosed courtyard.
How do you make a stay at your B&B special?
Since where are so small (only seven rooms) we try and meet every guest, answer any questions and find out their special needs. In a small establishment such as ours, you can personalize service.
What might a guest have at a typical breakfast?
We serve the typical American breakfast: toast, coffee, juice, cereal and tea, with all the usual trimmings.
What originally interested you in becoming innkeepers?
We both came to the profession from other occupations. Mr. App is a contractor and I am a retired lawyer; we both have long been interested in this sort of business.
What's your favorite part about being an innkeeper?
My favorite part is meeting such interesting people from around the world and being able to use my knowledge of the city and local history, of which I am somewhat of a buff. Also I like to use my French language skills.
What's your least favorite part?
You can always have the "difficult" guest who simply refuses to be pleased no matter what you do.
What do you remember most about your first month as an innkeeper?
Just the confusion of learning the various reservation/phone systems. I am 60 and when I started law, the IBM Selectomatic typewriter was the most technical piece of equipment in the office.
What's the strangest thing that ever happened to you as an innkeeper?
The strangest thing was meeting a guest, an American who was raised in Lima, Peru. I knew a local Englishman who was also in Peru in high school in the same period (during World War II). I found out they were classmates and arranged a meeting. They had completely lost touch with each other over the years. What is the phrase, "seven degrees of separation."
What advice would you give to aspiring innkeepers?
Be prepared to spend long hours, sometimes very busy and sometimes with not a lot to do. Also, always keep your cool. Don't let them get to you!
