Lesli and Mike Mautz opened the Bexley Bed and Breakfast on April 1, 2015, after a long and tedious journey.
Mike Mautz had always mentioned that someone should open a bed and breakfast in Bexley, and after Lesli Mautz retired, she said, “I told him I was doing it; I was going to open a bed and breakfast in Bexley. He thought I was crazy.”
They wanted a spot that was in the center of Bexley, but no buildings appropriate for a bed and breakfast were for sale.
There were three buildings that attracted the Mautzes, but the owners were not overtly interested in selling. They began making calls to the owners, asking if they were willing to sell. One owner was willing, but he or she refused to leave until another house in central Bexley could be found for the owner to move into.
One night, the Mautzes were at dinner with good friends who had been talking about moving, but were not sure of it yet. Lesli convinced them to let the building owner look at their home, and in February 2013, the building owner decided that he or she wanted to buy the house. The Mautzes friends sold their house to the building owner, who in return, sold the apartment building to the Mautzes.
They would have possession of the building on July 1, 2013. The Mautzes bought the building in the end of May 2013, and the next day went to the mayor of Bexley. They told the mayor they wanted to create a bed and breakfast and after six weeks of city hearings, their plans were approved.
The building took 16 months of renovation to complete and then opened on April 1, 2015. The Mautzes picked this day to open their business to show that they had a sense of humor, even after all the stress.
Lesli stated that her business is busy every day, and they never have a dull moment. They range anywhere from 90 to 120 rooming nights per month. Their guests range from wedding parties, families, and parents visiting their college students to college officials, including Capital’s very own President Paul.
This is an option for parents to stay at because it’s very close to campus and has free parking.
Lesli stated that she regularly informs her guests of what is going on around Bexley, including movies being shown at the Drexel theater, downtown happenings, and events that are happening at Capital, usually in the conservatory.
The bed and breakfast costs $159 a night plus tax, which adds up to be $186.83 a night, and the maximum number of consecutive days a guest can stay is 14. The Mautzes do not have many rules for their guests, but they do ban smoking and want all guests to have fun.
The Mautzes provide a continental breakfast to their guests every morning. Afternoon snacks are also available to guests. The bed and breakfast also has Wi-Fi for all guests, and there is private parking in the back. All guests have private bathrooms that include walk-in showers, heated floor tiles, and heated towel racks.
With the business being in the middle of the city, many would think that street noise would be a large issue. Lesli claims that it is not an issue and that their location is actually quite peaceful.
“A lot of people like to just sit on the porch and watch the world,” she says. “It can be very peaceful.”
Since the business is located near intersections, traffic is slowed down, making it a calm and quiet environment.
Lesli takes pride in the fact that her bed and breakfast is linked so strongly with Capital University. President Paul stayed there multiple times over the summer, creating a strong relationship with Lesli. The Mautzes have also housed multiple Capital employees, including professors and officials who stayed at the Bexley Bed and Breakfast when applying for the job at Capital.
Lesli and her husband have dedicated five percent of their gross earnings to philanthropy. Last year, they donated a portion of this money to the Capital Conservatory, and are getting ready to make their second donation to Capital when the anniversary of their opening arrives.
Lesli said that Capital will always be the recipient of their donations because the Mautzes greatly appreciate the relationship they have built with the university.
