Chicago bed-and-breakfast offers 'community and character' to a stay in the city

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — This week's Made in Chicago features a quirky bed-and-breakfast on the North Side, Ray’s Bucktown Bed and Breakfast, where stepping inside has been likened to entering a museum.

“The term 'obsessive-compulsive' comes to mind, regarding my collecting,” said founder Ray Reiss.

Nearly every inch of the bed-and-breakfast is covered with photography, pottery, figurines and just about anything else imaginable.

Reiss originally bought the property to use as his photography studio. Twenty years later, he grew tired of the business and had a different idea for the building.

“I was looking at my building here, and I’m thinking: ‘I'm in a good neighborhood … this would be a great place for a bed-and-breakfast,’” he said.

On March 7, 2005, Reiss opened Ray's Bucktown Bed and Breakfast.

It started out with four bedrooms and eventually expanded to 11 bedrooms, complete with an on-site sauna and steam room and, of course, breakfast that’s cooked to order every morning.

Ever since the rise of Airbnb, though, Reiss said he thinks the second part of his business’ name — often abbreviated to “B and B” — has been overlooked due to many people mistakenly believing that Airbnb listings offer the same services as a B and B.

“Bed-and-breakfasts are licensed through every city that they're in,” Reiss said. “[Bed-and-breakfasts] have much more stringent rules and regulations.”

Reiss said any Airbnbs that serve food are likely breaking the law unless they have the proper licenses, certifications and pass inspections — all of which are required for a bed-and-breakfast.

He added that bed-and-breakfasts also offer that morning meal and parking for no extra cost. Another difference, as Manager Ashlee Scodari put it, is that Ray's Bucktown Bed and Breakfast gives you that real feel of home away from home.

“This has community and character and all these amenities tied into the price; people forget that,” Scodari said. “With Airbnb, you're paying to strip the bed; you're paying to start the laundry; you don’t get breakfast; you might not get parking. We just offer so much that the value is so high.”

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