Small Biz Spotlight: The Sleigh Maker Inn

Originally from North Attleboro, Deborah and James Bergeron have lived in Western Massachusetts, Virginia and Florida before returning to Massachusetts in 2005. With a combined background in real estate, customer service, fundraising and IT support, the Bergerons decided to pump their skills into a new venture.

In 2005, they bought the Sleigh Maker Inn, which had originally opened in 2000 and closed in 2003 when the owner put it up for sale.

The Sleigh Maker Inn Bed and Breakfast is located at 87 West Main St. in Westborough, across the street from Westborough High School.

Patch recently talked with Deborah Bergeron:

What this type of business? And why Westborough? When we lived in Virgina back in the late ‘90s we were approached by a woman who helped visitors to the University of Virginia find lodging. We had an 1870s farmhouse with two extra bedrooms, so we started taking guests and got our feet wet in the hospitality business. After about six months, it was apparent that I had a knack for it and our guest were always very pleased with their stay. Fast forward to 2004. My oldest daughter, Carolyn, and her husband, Brian, live in West Boylston. Carolyn has MS and in 2004 they decide to have a baby. Ethan was born on April 1, 2004. In October of the same year when he was six months old he was diagnoised with Leukemia. We were now living in Florida. We knew they were going to be going through difficult times and due to Carolyn’s severe symtoms she was not able to drive so we decided to move back to Massachusetts to help them out. The night that we got the news I did a quick search for bed and breakfast for sale with in 30 miles of West Boylston and came upon the listing for the Sleigh Maker Inn.

What do you like best about it? I love working from home and cooking, gardening, entertaining and meeting people from all over the world.

Biggest struggle? That we have gotten so busy with the business, I don’t have as much time as I would like to spend with my grandsons (we now have 4, 3 of which live in New York state)

What do you see for the future? Our current plans, always subject to change, are to continue with the business for a few more years on a full time basis. At that point, we may sell and find a seasonal lodging business or hire an innkeeper to run The Sleigh Maker and take some time
off to see the kids and travel.

Politics and small business: how does government affect your business? Lawmakers hurt small business by setting requirements for large business that don’t pertain to small business but imposing them on us. Then they ignore some website that bypasses the laws. This is very challenging.

Know a business that deserves the spotlight? Tell us about it at charlene.arsenault@patch.com.