Former Londoner B&B becomes the German Inn

Published: December 7, 2011 

The large black, yellow and red flag of Germany has replaced the Union Jack.

Inside, the English afternoon tea is giving way to the German kaffee klatsch.

It’s all part of the transformation of the Londoner Bed and Breakfast into the German Inn Bed and Breakfast & Restaurant.

Londoner owner Jennifer Taylor, who owns the home at 304 15th St. W., with her husband John, has sold the business to Joerg Int-Veen, a native of Germany who owns several hotels with restaurants and health clubs in his homeland.

“They are the right fit for the house because they are European,” said Taylor, who bought the home in 2007 and spent $150,000 remodeling it. “Traditional German homes are the same as traditional English homes, so not much has to change.”

Taylor had posted the business for sale on Craig’s List and Int-Veen was intrigued when he saw the listing and made an appointment to see the house and meet Taylor.

“It’s a right house for us, it’s an old-fashioned house, a grandma’s house where you stay with your family,” he said.

Ironically, Int-Veen several years was in the process of buying the Haley’s Motel in Holmes Beach from his long-time friend Sabine Musil-Buehler. But when the woman disappeared under mysterious circumstances and was presumed dead, he backed out of the deal.

A few of the changes the B&B will see is the addition of a coffee klatsch every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be plenty of German coffee with homemade German pastry.

The B&B will serve dinner featuring German cuisine like schnitzel and goulash to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Int-Veen is planning a grand opening Dec. 17 at 4 p.m.

Taylor will continue to be the landlord for the property was well as 20 others in Manatee she owns. The Brit is thinking of becoming licensed in property management so she can oversee other people’s property too.

The response from some of Taylor’s regulars to the B&B change has surprised even her.

“The day it went from the Londoner to the German Inn, one of my ladies was coming to tea to celebrate her 104th birthday,” Taylor said. “I dreaded telling her but when I did she said, ‘I used to do a coffee klatsch every Saturday with my father.’ I turns out she was half German, half English.”

For more information about the bed and breakfast, go to germaninnbradenton.com

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