1101 Southard Street, Key West - Guest House For Sale

Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, the Frances Street Bottle Inn located at 1101 Southard Street in Old Town.  The listing Broker, not me, describes this guesthouse this way:

"The Frances Street Bottle Inn is a well established guest house in the heart of old town Key West. The house has been lovingly restored and is a beautiful example of historic Key West architecture. There are eight lovely rooms, seven which are transient. In addition to the guest rooms there is a spacious lounge/dining room, an office/reception area and a wide porch where guests relax in the mornings and evenings and watch the world go by. Two of the guest room suites have living rooms and kitchenettes, one has a large balcony. Two of the guest rooms have a brick outdoor patio. The guest house is perfectly located in the heart of old town within walking distance to everything."

 The Frances Street Bottle Inn is nestled behind a gorgeous Royal Poinciana Tree. During May and June that tree bursts into millions of tiny red flowers attracting passers-by to take a look.  The immediate area encompassing Fleming Street to the north to Angela Street at the south and from White Street to the east to Grinnell at the west have some of the prettiest and most expensive homes in Old Town.  The Inn is located within an easy walking distance to Duval Street and the Historic Key West Seaport. It is also within an easy walking distance to many of the gyms and yoga studios. Guests love the convenient location because of its proximity to all the Old Town has to offer but it is not so close as to be bothered by all the craziness of Duval Street.  

 I searched the Sanborn Fire Map for 1889 and found what I believe to be the main part of the current building now known as 1011 Southard Street.  I dug into the old shoebox and found a photo taken from the Frances Street side in 1965 with a notation that the building was built in the 1920s.  I think that may be when the one story addition at the rear on the Frances Street side was built because the 1912 Sanborn Map did not show the addition.

The building's current structure has 2920 sq ft of living area under air conditioning. This does not include any of the deck areas.  The building sits on a 3445 sq ft lot (53' on Frances Street opposite Cafe Sole by 65' on Southard Street). There is no pool but there is space to add a pool on the east side of the lot where there is a large bricked terrace.

The bricked terrace extends another fifteen feet or so on beyond the wood fence at the rear.  In reality most guests will probably out sight seeing rather than hanging by the pool. But having a pool or spa would enhance marketability a bit. Having been a guesthouse owner myself, I know the things new guests ask for when they check in "Where's the bathroom?"; "Where can I get a drink"; and "How far is the beach?"

The breakfast nook is located just off the front porch. The doors open out to that porch which wraps around the Frances Street side. Guests may dine inside or outside. They can sit and share their Key West experiences with others guests and perhaps checkout a restaurant or gallery for later that day.  Guest houses are different from hotels. People feel like they are in a home, not in a hotel. They like pretend this is their home. They will sit on a porch or a balcony and watch the people go by imagining how wonderful their lives might be if they could live in Key West in a home like this and experience the relaxed environment of our island paradise. CLICK HERE for more photos.

Let's Pretend!

This guest room includes a private sitting area and a mini-bar. Guests could really "play house" in this special room. It is individual rooms like these (as opposed to standard rooms and junior suites) in hotels) that motivates guests to return to guest houses year after year.  If the guests like the guest house and the guest house owner and staff, they will likely book the same room for the same time in the year to come. People are creatures of habit. If they like their experience, they will return.    


CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on this property. But better than looking at the mls, let's schedule a personal viewing of this money making opportunity. This property will give a chance to move to Key West, operate a profitable business, and change your life.  Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule an appointment.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  Let me help you find your place in Paradise.