Shore Acres Inn and Restaurant in North Hero

Well into their third decade of owning and operating the Shore Acres Inn and Restaurant, Susan and Mike Tranby, along with daughter Majken, decided it was time to turn the reins of this beloved property over to a new owner.   Resoundingly successful, the 23 room full service inn attracts a loyal clientele built over many years.  Guests exhale in this peaceful, fifty acre oasis on Lake Champlain.  The artfully  curated grounds and gardens, the magnificent vistas, lulling sounds of the Lake, and the pristine condition of the property keep people returning year after year.  Meanwhile, locals love the restaurant whose longstanding Chef puts out consistently delicious food served in a lakeview dining room by staff who have returned for years.  It is a comfortable place where connection is found.  In the midst of a Pandemic, along came Neil and Kelly Gillespie and their friend, Jason Hanny who made it their mission to buy the inn so that North Hero would continue to have this special place for years to come.  Jason will be at the helm.  They intend to make a few very exciting tweaks to the property while promising to value what has made the core business so successful.  The sale is proof that a global pandemic has not stopped the market for viable hospitality properties.  We wish Neil, Kelly, and Jason years of success and fulfillment at Shore Acres.

The Hearthside Group’s Partners have decades of Innkeeping and Resort Management experience between them.  Wendy Beach’s recent sale of the Shore Acres Inn and Restaurant capitalized on her unique  and first hand experience in seasonal, lakeshore resort operations.  First hand operations experience makes a difference in hospitality transactions.

The Tucker Hill Inn

Tim Piper of the Hearthside Group is proud to announce the transfer of the Tucker Hill Inn in Waitsfield, VT. Susan Buchanan and Steve White have purchased this Vermont gem from Patti and Kevin Begin.

Susan and Steve are graduates of our Hearthside Innkeeping Seminar.  Ironically the Seminar was hosted by Patti and Kevin at Tucker Hill just 11 months ago.  Both Susan and Steve have had a hospitality background that they will bring to this exciting project.

A special thanks to Patti and Kevin for all the amazing work they did to bring the Food & Beverage experience back to Tucker Hill after a 10-year absence.  Their vision and hard work have restored a quality Food & Beverage experience for guests and locals of the Mad River Valley.

The Featherbed Inn in Waitsfield, VT.

Tim Piper of the Hearthside Group represented the buyers, Karen and Mick Rookwood.  We welcome them to our Vermont family of Innkeepers.  As for the sellers, Linda and Tom Gardner are passing the reins after 15 years of Innkeeping.  They have purchased a house and are planning to remain in the Mad River Valley.  Tracey Coutts, the original owner of the Featherbed Inn, also made an appearance to wish Karen and Mick well.

Swift House Inn and Jessica’s Restaurant

The Hearthside Group is proud to announce the sale of the Swift House Inn and Jessica’s Restaurant in Middlebury to Matthew Robinson.  Tim Piper represented Matthew as a Buyer Broker in the transaction.  Sellers were Nationally recognized innkeepers, Dan and Michele Brown.   Regarding this transaction, Tim reports, “It is very exciting when a deal comes together and you know it is a win/win for both the buyers and the sellers!”  Tim met Matthew at the PAII conference in Las Vegas a few years back where Tim was a presenter. Matthew, a former Disney executive from LA, was originally from the Northeast and couldn’t wait to move to Middlebury, a vibrant four season College town.  Together, Tim and Matthew considered many opportunities, but in the end, it was clear to Matthew that the Swift House and Middlebury was where he wanted to settle with his fiance, Serena Kim.  They will host their own wedding at the inn next summer!

Michele and Dan Brown, the former owners of the Swift House Inn, were tireless in their support of innkeeping as a profession.    They found their way to the Swift House with the help of the Hearthside Group when they purchased their inn, and it is fitting that we helped them to retire.  We wish Michele and Dan many happy, healthy years in their well-deserved retirement.

The Chase House Inn

We are pleased to announce the sale of The Chase House Bed and Breakfast Inn of Cornish, New Hampshire.  The inn is one of New Hampshire’s National Historic Landmarks and is the Birthplace of Salmon P. Chase. Situated on the banks of the picturesque Connecticut River in the heart of The Cornish Colony, with spectacular views of Vermont’s Mount Ascutney, this lovely New Hampshire Inn uniquely combines a 1766 Settlement Colony-style house with a fine, circa 1795 Federal-style house.

The inn has a total of 10 guest rooms, and the common space is large and beautiful.

The grounds are copious, landscaped and include a separate three-bay garage and an attached two-car garage.  With over 38 acres, there are various patios for guest use and private areas for the owners as well.  An apple orchard and a pond complete the very quiet and peaceful surroundings.

Gary Gosselin represented the seller of the property and assisted the buyers in this transaction.

Otter Creek Bakery and Cafe

After thirty-one years at the helm of their renowned Otter Creek Bakery and Cafe, Sarah and Ben Wood have sold to buyer, Ned Horton.  Otter Creek Bakery is a landmark in Middlebury, beloved by locals, students, and tourists who flock to the bakery for its amazing breakfast and lunch fare, coffee, and delectable home baked desserts and treats.    We wish Sarah and Ben well in all of their new endeavors, and we wish Ned the best of luck with his new business acquisition.   Wendy Beach is thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with the parties to this transaction and help to make it a reality.

Inn on Covered Bridge Green- Home of Norman Rockwell

Smiles all round for the group pictured here- from left is Margretta Fischer from Maple Leaf Realty, buyers Kevin and Sue Harter, center, and their buyer broker, Wendy Beach, Hearthside Group, on the right.  Kevin and Sue have big plans for this historic and beautiful property located on fifty acres in West Arlington, Vermont.    Their inn includes Norman Rockwell’s studio which is rented out as a spacious and unique two bedroom suite.  It also includes a honeymoon cottage and Mr. Rockwell’s original home which now features six guest rooms.  This property is so peaceful and scenic.  Kevin and Sue have dreamed of owning an inn for twenty five years, and now their dream is a reality.