If only walls could talk. Roanoke contains so much history, and the walls of the Maridor Bed and Breakfast certainly have stories to tell. On Friday, September 6th, and Friday, September 13th, the local bed and breakfast hosted an open house for interested parties before going up for auction. Tourists can feel the walls vibrating with stories known and unknown throughout the entire house and on Friday, September 20th, a brand new story will begin.
The trademark name came from the third owner, Marion Augustus Smyth, the president of National Business College. Smyth combined his children’s names, Marion and Dorothy, for the unique name. Over the years, the Maridor belonged to a church which ran a child daycare and used the banquet hall as a sanctuary before the current owners purchased it and remodeled it to host many events and guest services.
The current owners of the Maridor have put a lot of work into the property over the weekends and have now reached their financial goal. Fifteen years ago, they began to run it as a business and have hosted an average of thirty-seven events a year with a demand for more. It is certainly a great business opportunity. They have decided that it is time to move on and are looking for good hands to pass down this historic landmark.
Since the owners are retiring from the business, they have decided to include the furnishings (with exception of the carriage house), banquet equipment, and the Maridor trade name in the sale. It is an open opportunity for anyone wishing to start a bed and breakfast.
It houses three junior suites, two master suites, two bedrooms upstairs in the servants’ quarters, and another bedroom in the carriage house. The two master suites have beautiful sitting rooms just off the bedrooms filled with natural lighting. Each bedroom has its own bathroom filled with distinctive bathtubs and sinks adding additional charm.
Unlike modern hotels, the Maridor still has pieces of history hidden in its corners. Upstairs in the servants’ quarters, an old telephone hangs on the wall outside one of the bedrooms with buttons to call the butler, kitchen, and banquet hall. A cozy side porch with a garden and waterfall has hosted many weddings, receptions, and other events over the years.
Now, at the end of a large portion of the bridal season, the Maridor is up for auction. The auctioneer, Jonna McGraw with Woltz and Associates, is hosting the two open houses and is available for any questions tourists have on site or in the future before the auction on Friday, September 20th.
The auction will be held at 2:00 pm in the Maridor on the corner of Grandin and Shirley Road with a minimum bid of $675,000. The property was appraised at $743,100 and comes fully furnished with furniture, menus, and everything else possibly needed for a bed and breakfast business; it is walk-in ready.
With its location at the core of the Raleigh Court business area and only three blocks away from the historic Grandin Village, the Maridor will offer a unique opportunity to the winning bidder.
– Jessica A. Roberts