Connellsville Bed & Breakfast
People
When John and Lucy King decided to move their business selling imported Czech crystal to Connellsville, they knew it also made sense to join the trail town economy. They weren’t expecting that many Great Allegheny Passage trail users would hike or bike away with three-tier dessert dishes in their packs. But they figured that if they combined elegance, adventure and a touch of history in one building, something beautiful would crystallize.
Progress
Through the Trail Town Program, the Kings learned about The Progress Fund. Armed with a business plan they crafted with Duquesne University’s Small Business Development Center, they got a $65,000 loan from The Progress Fund, and a $100,000 loan from the state First Industries Tourism Program.
Impact
A block from the trail, above the Kings’ La Bohéme crystal shop, beneath century-old tin ceilings and arch windows, history is coming alive. Each of the four guest rooms at the Connellsville Bed & Breakfast honors one of the ethnic groups that settled the town. Guests “get a flavor of the history of the town” – sometimes including a full ethnic breakfast, says Lucy – “because there’s a lot of history here.” With the town’s business district starting to hum, there may be more history to come.
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