Siejack has already retired twice — once from the Air Force Reserves and again from a job as the health promotions director at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Now she’s ready to retire again from hospitality.
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Retiring doesn’t mean she won’t be working though. The Chesapeake Bay native plans to spend one to two years finding the right buyer for the event center and inn. Even after that she plans to work for the new owner. The expectation is that all of her staff will also stay on after a potential sale.
“I would just like to work fewer hours,” Siejack said. “I’m just at a point in life where I’d like to work maybe just 40 hours a week and will be involved in the business.”
The 4690 Urbana Road business is on a path of long-term growth, which won’t change under an ownership change, she said. Even though she’s known since 2014 she would need to slow down eventually, she continued investing money into the property to set it up for success for decades to come.
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In 2017, Siejack spent $400,000 on the newest addition of the banquet hall. She also has reserved plots for more luxury tree houses in future expansion.
“I started the business. I came here to a vacant property that was empty for three years and built it to what it is now,” Siejack said. “It’s a full service inn with 12 lodging rooms and a 300-person event center.”
In 2018, there were more than 65 large events at the Historic Simon Kenton Inn, and there are more on the books for 2019 and 2020, said Ric Moody commercial broker with Coldwell Banker. Diane Ericksen of Coldwell Banker is also working on the sale.
The event center is continuing to take reservations for all future dates.
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“Siejack has built a successful business that provides first class hospitality unrivaled by competitors,” Moody said. “She saved this historically important property from ruins, restored it to its original glory, constantly expanded to fit the changing needs of her clientele.”
It includes three separate businesses that work together to provide a full-service environment: the restaurant and pub, lodging and banquet facility.
The property is being sold for $2,950,000 and includes the business value, public restaurant and pub, two outdoor patios, multiple interior dining rooms, five private B&B style rooms, three luxury tree houses overlooking Kenton Creek, a three-bedroom cottage and 6,500 square-foot banquet facility, according to a listing on LoopNet.
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