By Grace Alexander
A recipient of the 2016 Trip Advisor Award of Excellence, Quintessentials, in East Marion, has long been one of the most charming Bed and Breakfasts on the North Fork. Recently, this historic treasure, which is housed in a sea captain’s house, hit the market for the first time in twenty-three years. Ever dreamed of running a b-and-b? Now’s your chance!
The Numbers
Located at 8985 Main Road, in East Marion, this four thousand square-foot Italianate mansion dates to the mid-1800s and sits on .75 of an acre. It has fifteen rooms, six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, four fireplaces, two sunrooms, three outbuildings. Listed at $1.2 million with Victoria Germaise of Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
Why We Love It
Coveted East Marion location. A few miles to the west, there’s Greenport; a few miles to the east, Orient Point and the Long Island Sound ferry.
Hamlet business zoning. “People flip for that,” says Germaise, the listing agent. One of only four hamlet business-zoned properties in East Marion. “It allows for greater flexibility of usage than any other zoning.”
Top-drawer neighbors. The iconic Hellenic Snackbar and Restaurant is just down the road and the hugely popular Lavender By the Bay, a lavender farm, is across the street.
Seriously gorgeous architectural features. The beautifully-preserved widow’s walk has views of the Sound. And how many bed and breakfasts on the North Fork have a cupola? The porch has sawn spandrels (those Victorian curlicues that are often mistaken for gingerbread trim) and there’s a fireplace in every guest room–”the mantelpieces are works of art with hammered copper and glazed tile–” and in the two sitting rooms on the main floor with very fine woodwork throughout. “The staircase woodwork alone is jaw dropping,” says Germaise. “It’s the kind of craftsmanship from the 1800’s that you don’t see anymore.”
The grand manor house feel. Two of the five guest rooms have their own spacious terraces and all have en suite bathrooms, and so do the innkeeper’s quarters on the main floor. There are two sitting rooms on the main floor as well as a library and a dining room with a trayed mahogany ceiling.
The combination of mod cons and historic details. The huge kitchen and eight bathrooms are renovated but many of the original details of the house have been retained.
Three outbuildings. A large restored vintage barn on two stories; a pumphouse that the current owner converted into a tea house; and the original blacksmith’s cottage, which Germaise says could easily be transformed into a spa.
The exquisite grounds. There are pathways and perennial gardens, including a meditation garden, a labyrinth of private sitting areas, and a sprawl of greensward bordered by preserved land. As a bonus, there’s room for a pool or a tennis court, rarities for a North Fork inn.
The Vision Thing
Germaise says she’s had a great many inquiries from potential bed and breakfast owners. She thinks the property would suit “someone looking for a simpler life who knows the area and and who likes to entertain.” She adds, “It’s a great location and the place has twenty years of good will and good business practices behind it. The business is more or less a gift; we’ve priced it at fair market real estate value.” If you’re interested in taking a look, don’t wait. Germaise says that because the bed and breakfast is almost fully booked on weekends through the winter, “the big challenge is getting people in to see it.”
