Community Corner

Wynnewood Resident Opens Manayunk Bed & Breakfast

Joanie White, 66, owns and operates the transformed single-family home as Manayunk's only bed and breakfast at 3937 Terrace St.

 

After moving to Wynnewood when her Manayunk house started to feel too big, Joanie White has now transformed that Manayunk home into a home away from home for others.

Houses with residential elevators are the exception, not the rule, in Manayunk. So stepping into the two-person elevator at Manayunk Terrace immediately calls to mind the bed and breakfast's slogan "the petite hotel." It's quaint and cute, and built for guests.

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White, 66, owns and operates the transformed single-family home as Manayunk's only bed and breakfast at 3937 Terrace St.

From the street, the three stories of balconies at the corner of Markle and Terrace streets standout. Inside, the porches provide a solid survey of the neighborhood—unique from most views in Manayunk and Roxborough. The same goes for the roof—guests on the upper floor get access to the 360 view of Manayunk and the city.

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The Amenities

About 15 years ago, White said a friend approached her about buying the property. She and her husband intended to make into a retirement home. After remodeling the dilapidated property, she felt it too big to reside in, and now lives in Wynnewood. 

For a while, the Whites tried to sell the property (and still would like to), but never found a buyer.

So, they acquired a rental license and rented the place on and off to individual tenants and later to occasional guests. Recently, she received a three-year temporary license from the city to operate as a hotel.

So far, she's happy with the reception.

"What keeps me going... is the appreciation people have. It's very rewarding," she said.

In total there are four bedrooms spread across the three suites. She can break it up depending on needs, but it basically exists as a master suite, executive two-bedroom suite, and economy suite. Rates range from $100 to $200 a night.

Available at the bed and breakfast are: Jacuzzi, steam bath, flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, living rooms, and other features.

She also owns garages, which guests use for parking. However, she said most patrons fly in, so they don't need the space.

Previously, she owned a farmhouse and shore house in addition to property in Roxborough and Wynnewood. Though she doesn't have a background in decorating, she's designed numerous spaces, and the place feels homey. Her daughter, Vittoria Schutz (a graduate of the Moore College of Art) has been instrumental in all aspects, including the B&B's website and social media push.

Though they don't cook the breakfast themselves, White said each unit is equipped with food for a "make-your-own, continental breakfast," with a full kitchen for those who rent the top floor.

The Clientele

Customers vary. Some are professionals at Center City conventions or working on City Avenue. Others are parents visiting nearby college students. Some families rent the whole house for a week or two in the summer.

"It's really a whole lot of different people. I've had people get married in Manayunk, and stay here the night of their wedding," she said.

A future guest, she said, needs a place to stay while helping her sister move. Another group is comprised of former Philadelphia residents who now live in Alaska and are visiting family.

At community meetings, . However, White said she's not interested in attracting "the party crowd.With all that we invested here—we built this ourselves—we don't want that."

She added they require more than 24-hour notice for reservations, and only accepts credit cards.

Though White and her husband don't live on-site, but they check in on the clients everyday, and are available 24/7.

For more information, visit the Manayunk Terrace's website.


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