By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Historic Allyn Mansion at 511 E. Walworth Ave. in downtown Delavan will re-open for business as a luxury bed and breakfast April 2 under new ownership.
Randy Bangs, who owns and operates the Pleasant Street Bed and Breakfast in Oconomowoc, will open the B&B.
“This is great,” Mayor Mel Nieuwehuis said. “I am excited.
Nieuwenhuis said Bangs has a proven record in Oconomowoc where his business has earned a five-star rating from every rating service that has evaluated it. Bangs said his Pleasant Street Bed and Breakfast was the top-rated B&B in Wisconsin according to Trip Advisor, earning a 99.99 out of 100 rating. He said it was also the first two-suite diamond collection property in Wisconsin, a designation that rates it as one of the most elite properties in the state.
Bangs said he and his wife opened the Pleasant Street Bed and Breakfast in August 2013 and found it to be very successful. Now they feel they are ready for something bigger.
“We wanted the opportunity to grow,” he said.
Their new business inside the Allyn Mansion will have eight suites instead of two. Bangs said he and his wife were attracted to Allyn Mansion because of its condition and history.
“It is an amazing property,” Bangs said. “It is a one-of-a-kind place, both for its architecture and condition.”
Bangs said many places are as old as the Allyn Mansion but few are as beautiful or as well decorated. He said the new business will have all new bedding and the latest in technology in Samsung Galaxy tablets, stereo surround sound systems, and high definition televisions. No structural remodeling is necessary. In some of the rooms, there may need to be a change in the mattresses if they are older than others to keep in style with their new ‘look’, so the new owners may want to check out what is the best place to Shop Luxury Mattresses as well as bedframes to make the rooms and the whole setting feel more appealing.
The new bed and breakfast will be upscale luxury, offering a wine and craft beer reception, gourmet breakfast, nightly snack and premium linens and robes. Some spa amenities may be added in November or December.
“It is our intent to be the finest bed and breakfast in Wisconsin,” Bangs said.
“We were drawn to the incredible beauty of the property. It is incredibly well-maintained and it is in a favorable market,” Bangs said.
Bangs said the Delavan-Lake Geneva area is the second-ranked tourist area in the state, and he would like to capitalize on that.
The Allyn Mansion was built in 1885 based on architect E. Townsend Mix’s plan. Ron Markwell and Joe Johnson bought the mansion in 1984, partially restored it and opened it for business as a bed and breakfast in 1986. Complete restoration took 18 years. Markwell and Johnson decided to retire and close the bed and breakfast in January 2009.
Bangs said Markwell will continue to live on site, offer consulting services and be accessible to guests to educate them on the history of the property.
“He is a wonderful person with tremendous character,” Bangs said.
Bangs said he is excited about the property because it offers something no other bed and breakfast offers – a chance to live like someone did at the height of the Gilded Age. He said that even though the business will have only eight suites, they will bring in high-dollar guests looking for a destination property.
Bangs said the Allyn Mansion is an iconic building that the community has a lot of pride in, and the people of the community want it to be successful. His business can do much to guide guests to other local businesses for shopping and dining, and he plans to connect with other local business owners to that end.
“The success of any business is driven by the ability to develop partnerships with local entities,” Bangs said.
“We can guarantee our guests receive a great experience, but we can’t guarantee they will come back unless we hook them on the community,” he said. “We want to sell the community and help our guests have a great experience.”
Bangs said the community has to support him as well so that he can get repeat business and enough business to be more than just a weekend getaway. Local businesses and corporations, for example, can recommend it for VIP guests or business travelers. Community members can recommend it to out-of-town guests. Bangs said city staff and the council have been incredibly supportive.
With a background in marketing, Bangs said he knows the importance of aggressive marketing. He said businesses can’t rely on potential guests just finding them on their own.
“The area offers a place people already want to go,” Bangs said. “You just have to convince them you offer something unique and special. If you can’t do that with the Allyn Mansion, you are not doing your job.”
Bangs also said he wants to have a successful business and be a good community member. He has already committed to putting up some of the artists for the Walldog event that is coming to Delavan in June and plans to donate to local organizations.
“We want to be a positive force in the community,” he said. “We are not just running a business, we want to be a partner in the community.”
Bangs said he plans to sell the Pleasant Street Bed and Breakfast. He said it would be the perfect business for someone wanting to run a B&B as a hobby, as a first attempt or for retirement income.
“This is great for the downtown,” Nieuwenhuis said. “They will do extremely well here.”
Nieuwenhuis said he has been impressed with what Bang and his wife have accomplished in Oconomowoc in an out-of-the-way location and he is excited to see what they can do in a much more visible location.
“It is a wonderful thing that it will be opened back up to the public,” said Alderman Ryan Schroeder, chairman of the Downtown Revitalization Committee. “It will give the general public the opportunity to see what makes that place such a beautiful place not only on the outside but on the inside.
“It has been a wonderful landmark for the downtown area and having it back open to the public will hopefully spur other things in the downtown.”
