Springfield Business Journal_2021-05-10

SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 25 MAY 10-16, 2021 NEWS C 13 0D 95 78 B2 1 96 C4 0 42 F8 5 6 C 13 D 5 During National Foster Care Month, the “ I Am Me ” campaign encourages kids in care to be their true selves. Partner with us to help kids step out of the shadows and into confidence! Visit ccozarks.org/IAMME May 2021 NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH Sponsors: You can help us restore dignity for children and youth in foster care by partnering with the Ambassadors for Children “ I Am Me ” campaign to provide them the opportunity to “dress” their personalities with new clothes, shoes and accessories, and new opportunities to learn and grow. I a m K i n d I a m F u n n y I a m C r e a t i v e she’s yet to visit with Patty Miller about the former jail but plans to soon discuss promotional opportu- nities. It holds good potential as a tourist attraction, she said. “It’s definitely one- of-a-kind. Something like that will draw a lot of tourism,” Wat- son said. “I’ve never heard of anyone refurbishing a jail into an Airbnb before. That will definitely be something we can market in our commu- nity.” Watson said it’s exciting to see the Mill- ers take an interest in restoring and repur- posing an old building in town. “They’ve put some really good thought into it and made it look great,” Watson said. “It really maximizes the space that was there.” Miller said she ac- cepts walk-in tours for the rental and hopes it will draw more people to Dallas County. The uniqueness and eight-per- son capacity could appeal to bridal and bachelorette parties, she said. “A bachelorette party, you can come stay before you’re actually locked up for life,” Miller said with a laugh. “There’s a lot of puns with a jail you can use.” Setting expectations Even though her vision for the former jail was clear in her mind, Miller said she still had doubts about what she was doing and if the work would ever finish. “Lots of second thoughts, but you pray about it and get what you think’s the right answer, and you forge on,” she said. “It was a long way to get there, but it totally turned out exactly how I thought.” She’s listed the property on Airbnb.com starting at $156 per night with a two-night minimum. Airbnb Inc. has a 3% host fee for each booking, Miller said. Reserva- tions started to come in days prior to opening, Miller said, adding she has no first-year financial estimates for her new venture. “I have five bookings and several of them are weddings on the square,” she said April 30. “I just feel like we need to get open and see what it’s going to do. I’m confident that it’s going to book, and I have no worries that it’s not.” MCKENZIE ROBINSON 3% Host service fee for Airbnb The bedrooms have memory foam mattresses for the bunk beds, and the Miller family helped revamp the bathrooms.