Most people can’t imagine walking away from a stable 9-to-5 career in order to run their own business. In fact, for many, turning a passion project into a full-time job will never be more than a dream.
But sisters Kristen and Kathryn Groom aren’t most people. Today, the two siblings are living out a real-life “Gilmore Girls” fantasy after opening their very own bed-and-breakfast inside a historic manor property in Welland, Ontario.
Kristen, 37, and Kathryn, 28, who purchased the property in May 2022, had always dreamed of moving into hospitality—despite having no professional experience in the industry—but never thought it would be something they’d be able to bring to life, at least not as their full-time jobs.
But then they came across the perfect property in their parents’ hometown that seemed too ideal to pass up and, before they knew it, their dream had become a reality.
They took just a few weeks to decorate and renovate the historic dwelling after closing before opening their business in July of that same year and, since then, their business has gone from strength to strength, allowing them to turn it into their full-time focus.
“It’s been really nice to see, and to go from what we thought was going to be a really nice side hustle potentially to now being our full-time career,” Kristen says.
Life before the bed-and-breakfast
Prior to launching their business, the sisters lived together in a two-unit bungalow in nearby Fonthill. Their professional backgrounds could not have been more different; neither had a drop of experience in hospitality but each boasted a very different personal skill set that ultimately made them the ideal team.
Kristen was working full time, climbing the corporate ladder as a human resources director while simultaneously finishing her graduate degree in project management.
Meanwhile, Kathryn was working as a freelancer in social media management, while completing her graduate degree in national security and counterterrorism.
But one thing they both had in common was a passion for traveling—as well as a shared desire to one day launch a business together. Over the years, they tossed around various ideas that would allow them to join forces, but a bed-and-breakfast was the one concept that kept resurfacing.
“It combines all of our passions,” Kathryn explains. “I love to cook and bake, we both love hosting, gardening, decorating, getting the space, and getting to meet new people. … It’s been really interesting to see how we’ve been able to merge our passions and our interests into an actual career and a lifestyle.”
Their dream of working together came to life when they toured a historic estate in Welland, the town where their parents were raised.
“We grew up in the next town over, named Pont Hill, but our parents were born and raised in this area, and the church across the street from us is actually the church that they got married in,” Kathryn says.
“This neighborhood has been sentimental to us for years, and both of our grandparents had been in the home with the [prior] owners, so they’ve been here for dinner parties and stuff.”
The historic property
Named after the Scottish immigrant family who built the estate in 1906, The Rose Manor honors its history by naming its guest rooms after original Rose family members: the Alexander Suite, the Birdie Suite, the Jennie Suite, and the Rose Suite.
The dwelling was originally redesigned as a Tudor Revival by Hugh Alexander Rose I as an 18th birthday and wedding present for his son, Hugh Alexander Rose II. But the Rose family didn’t just own the home, but practically the entire street.
The neighboring property originally belonged to Dr. Jay Schooley, the first doctor to practice medicine in Welland. Additionally, the church’s parking lot across the street used to be the family’s private tennis court, as well as owning a general store around the corner where the family used to trade.
Despite their family connections to the neighborhood, the sisters didn’t know the house existed until their mother sent them the real estate listing.
“We thought opening a bed-and-breakfast would be more of a retirement plan for us,” Kathryn explains. “But the property came up on the market, and we absolutely loved it and really loved that it was only one town over from where we grew up.”
Situated directly on the Welland Canal, guests can enjoy waterfront views, local concerts, and walkable access to nearby shops and restaurants.
Opening the doors
However, opening their now thriving business wasn’t without its hurdles. The sisters faced a variety of challenges during their first few months of business.
One of the biggest challenges they faced right away was trying to fill the massive space.
“When we went through the house, it felt big, but we didn’t realize how big it actually was, and what an undertaking it would be to fill an eight-bedroom, six-bath home with multiple common areas,” Kristen says.
Fortunately, because the two already lived together, they owned a double set of furniture that helped significantly. They spent time before opening antiquing, thrifting, and practically living on Facebook Marketplace.
Soon, they filled their garage and stocked up the space so quickly that they’ve implemented a new rule: if a new piece of furniture comes in, an old one must go out.
Another challenge that arose was when Kristen was still working her demanding nine-to-five job while The Rose Manor was launching. This made real-time decision-making difficult, leaving Kathryn to handle immediate issues on-site before debriefing with Kristen in the evenings.
Meanwhile, Kathryn was focused on testing recipes for when guests arrived.
“I fed Kristen breakfast for dinner for like two weeks before we opened for trial recipes,” Kathryn explains. “Opening weekend, we had a full house, and there were 10 people, and figuring out what to cook for 10 people was daunting. But it’s one of those things you keep trying, you keep practicing, and it works out.”
Kathryn was also finishing up her graduate degree and working for her social media clients as the launch was happening, before the two got comfortable enough to take on the business full time.The age of the manor brought unexpected challenges as well, including plumbing issues and a broken air conditioner. Yet despite these obstacles—and the fact that they were not listed on major booking platforms like Airbnb or Expedia—The Rose Manor kept a strong social media presence that ensured their rooms remained booked.
Weddings and more
What started as a traditional bed-and-breakfast quickly evolved into a multifaceted event space. Local photographers began booking the manor for holiday and commercial shoots, which then paved the way for small gatherings such as baby showers and birthday parties.
About a year and a half into running the business, they were asked to host their very first wedding. The event went spectacularly, inspiring the sisters to add wedding packages to their services.
“We’re hosting the most important events of people’s lives sometimes, and being a part of that is just so special,” Kristen said.
The sisters currently offer three types of wedding services: an elopement that can host 16 people, including the newlyweds, in their custom “Glass Garden,” which was built by their father and neighbor; an indoor seated wedding with up to 25 guests; and an outdoor, cocktail-style event that serves up to 50 guests, including the couple.
Outside of weddings, the siblings have also become a hub for wellness and staff retreats. They have even partnered with an on-site facialist, Skin by Nicole Grace, who rents out a space within the manor, allowing guests to enjoy luxury spa treatments without having to leave the property.
“It’s crazy to say, but we’re slowly outgrowing this place, and probably we’ll need to look for something else if we want to continue to expand for weddings and for events,” Kristen says.
A slow, unpredictable life
For the Groom sisters, life has happily slowed down.
Kristen no longer rushes out the door for a corporate commute; instead, she starts her mornings drinking coffee on the front porch and welcoming guests while Kathryn prepares breakfast. Once check-out time hits, the duo seamlessly transitions into cleaning mode to reset the space for the next guests.
While the sisters can look at their calendar and see a wedding booked a year in advance, they love that their day-to-day routine is constantly changing.
“I think that’s what excites us, too, is not knowing what the day is going to bring, and it’s just exciting,” Kristen explains.
Running The Rose Manor has also brought the siblings closer together.
”You’re so used to anybody in your life going to work, and you hear about work after work, but you don’t actually know what that looks like for that person,” Kathryn says. “It’s been really cool to see Kristen in action.”
Kristen feels exactly the same, admiring the way Kathryn has grown into her position.
“Seeing what she brings to any business decision or idea has been incredible,” Kristen says. “She can see the big picture, and she knows what we’re going to be doing five steps from now.”
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