The bed and breakfast industry was birthed in the U.S. during the 1980s, and B&Bs thrive today in large part because they provide an atmosphere of warmth and coziness that traditional hotels simply can’t match — although many are now trying.
The Welcome Inn Manor B&B located 4563 S. Michigan Avenue
(312-493-2953) is proudly owned and operated by innkeepers known as Mell and Angie. Taking residency in the vintage home Mell and Angie, credit the inn’s success to making the choice to invest not only in a historic neighborhood in the heart of Chicago’s blues and jazz district, but also in a house built in 1893 that reflects the attention to detail and architectural beauty of the early 19th century. They wanted their inn to be a modern-era cultural salon just right for allowing guests to share travels and life experiences, discuss issues of the day, and relax among new friends in richly decorated common areas. Guests often meet each other at breakfast where Mell’s “off-the-cuff” and popular breakfasts, are dreamed up on the spot and are inclusive with every overnight stay.
Why a Bed & Breakfast? 
There are several factors differentiating a B&B lodging experience and the Welcome Inn Manor from conventional hotels. The advantage is personalized service, an individualized decor, the comfort and access to a beautifully appointed historic home, friendly proprietors who can provide guests with personal insight—and make them feel right at home.
Most bed and breakfasts are owned by the innkeepers, who usually live on the premises. It’s natural to expect that innkeepers who live in their own inns will bring a different perspective to the job than someone who works a shift behind a hotel reception desk and then goes home and forgets about the customers left behind.
An “Experience”
A B&B is the overall delivery of an “experience” rather than just “a room for the night” lodge. Guests typically seem to enjoy the warmth and freedom of staying overnight in an actual home and many want to learn the (real) history about Chicago’s beginnings. Many visitors seeking romance take pleasure in the enlightening and insightful experience of weekend getaway- and indeed a B&B is unlike the stuffiness of hotel institutions.
Off The Beaten Path
Mell and Angie love that their inn is off the beaten path of conventional lodging and often refer to their motto to explain their approach to inn-keeping: “our place and yours”.
The Welcome Inn Manor B&B is a few blocks away within walking or biking distance to some of Chicago’s most accommodating public transportation systems. If you are driving, street parking is free. The hosts love to suggest great places to hear live Jazz, Blues or Rock music. Quite often they offer their favorite picks for BYOB restaurants with outstanding food at reasonable prices and numerous off the beaten path options, including a half -day trip to over a dozen wineries only 90 minutes away. It takes 12 minutes to arrive at the “One Magnificent Mile” area from the inn, boasting high-end designer shops, and where guests can indulge in Chicago-style pizza, hot dogs and popcorn.
Lakeshore Drive is located one mile away with a convenient route leading to downtown Chicago, world-class museums and a countless number of popular attractions. The Inn is 5 minutes away from McCormick Place Convention Center and several public beaches, a boating marina and just as close to the University Of Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology and U.S. Cellular Baseball Field. The Museum of Science and Industry and boat rides on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan is six miles away.
The Welcome Inn Manor inn is registered as a Chicago Landmark and achieved the 100 mark for “OUTSTANDING” ratings by its guests. More than 100 guests from countries around the world such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the Netherlands and various regions in the United States have agreed that Welcome Inn Manor represents the best among bed and breakfasts in service, value, atmosphere, cleanliness and dining.
Based on combined rating systems on leading travel websites, Welcome Inn Manor earned an average 5.8 out of 6.0 stars in the first 18 months after opening its doors.
