Meet Suzy Hankins | Innkeeper

We had the good fortune of connecting with Suzy Hankins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Suzy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My husband, Keith, and I had always wanted to work together. As our children graduated from high school we decided to make the steps necessary to finally do that. In 2011 we purchased our first lodging property, Ant Street Inn in Brenham, Texas. ASI was already a successful hospitality business and while we enjoyed growing its services and brand, we had an urge to start something from scratch. In 2016, Main Street House became that opporunity. At the time we also had an art gallery in town and decided to design the full service bed and breakfast around purchased artwork from the different artists we had worked with. The result has been nine years of intentional hospitality sharing food, comfort, rest and peace to our guests.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My heart has always beat for hospitality. From childhood birthday parties to women’s church retreats, I’ve enjoyed hosting people in my home. My background in marketing, public speaking,food services and event planning gave me years of seemingly unconnected experience that led me to becoming a fullt-time bed and breakfast owner and innkeeper. Our goal at Main Street House is to help our guests relax, refresh, reconnect and reflect while with us so they can take on the world afterwards. We strive for quiet moments, mindful rest and healing peace. And while we design those things for our guests to enjoy, we find ourselves enjoying those things as well when at work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There is so much to do in Brenham/Washington County you could spend a week here and still not see everything. But, to start, I would take them to the Blue Bell Ice Cream Visitor Center and Parlor, where you can get a full scoop of ice cream for $1. Then, I’d take them by the city parks, checking out the Little Free Libraries at each one. Lunch would have to be at Brenham Grill or Must Be Heaven, and afterwards we would stop at Jet Set Chocolate for some amazing handmade chocolate. After walking around downtown Brenham browsing the cute shops, we would come back to Main Street House and rest. That evening, we’d walk to Volare’s Italian restaurant, then go to a show at Unity Theatre. After the show, we’d visit on the front porch until our eyes required sleep. The next day, would be all about Texas history, with a drive through the county ending up at Washington on the Brazos State Park – where Texas became Texas. If we had time, we’d continue up the road to College Station and visit the George Bush Presidential Library. Dinner that second night would be pizza and a drink at 30 North Gastro Pub. If my friend was able to stay another day, I’d recommend another day of shopping and relaxing while we explored Round Top, Burton or Chappell Hill.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Keith, who believes in me when I don’t and is always willing to take the next step with me.

Website: https://mainsthouse.com

Instagram: mainstreethousebrenham

Facebook: Main Street House

Image Credits
All photos were taken by myself or my husband.