InnBuffalo Off Elmwood: Traditional Hospitality in a Historic Setting in Buffalo, NY
InnBuffalo Off Elmwood offers visitors to Buffalo the chance to stay in an historic home, but right near the vibrant and exciting Elmwood Village neighbourhood. The owners are there to ensure it’s one of the most memorable stays you’ll ever have - and they certainly succeed.
The inviting exterior of the InnBuffalo
You’ll find InnBuffalo in Buffalo’s vibrant and inviting Elmwood Village neighbourhood. Picture open-air cafes, bustling bars, chique restaurants, and plenty of shopping. InnBuffalo is located not far from the action, and it’s actually a good thing that it’s a touch removed, because the InnBuffalo harkens back to a past age, and is very much a nod to Buffalo’s rich history.
InnBuffalo was my base on my last trip as I explored places like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House and Duende at Silo City, but it was also much more than that. It felt, quite often, that InnBuffalo deserved to be an attraction itself.
The Inn is located in what was once the Hewitt Mansion, a 1898 masterpiece that is as charming as it comes. When Bri and I pulled into the parking lot, we both had the sense that if the exterior has such a presence and majesty to it, then we were likely in for a treat when we walked indoors to this historic inn.
And we were right.
The InnBuffalo: Bringing the Past to the Present
A large part of the experience at the InnBuffalo is the ownership. From the moment we walked in, Joe welcomed us like we were family. Fittingly, it was an old fashioned sense of hospitality. I shared a few drinks with Joe throughout the trip and I remember at one point he turned to me and said:
“Chris, it’s simple. When a guest asks for something, you find a way to make it happen.”
Joe walked me back to a time when he and his partner, Ellen, saw that this place was up for auction. He said he knew that this place needed a lot of work, but also that he felt this opportunity was too good to be true.
Apparently, at the auction house it was noted that this could be “a million dollar restoration.” But Ellen mentioned that, “knowing what Joe and (her) are capable of, (she) tried to take the slap of the restoration estimate in stride.”
It ended up being the most expensive property to sell at the auction in the past 5 years, but it was also the beginning of their dream. With the small touches they put into taking care of people (the wonderful food, the guiding towards particular restaurants and attractions), I honestly couldn’t imagine them doing anything else, so I think we should all count ourselves lucky that they raised that paddle at that auction.
It’s a place we felt genuinely cared for. The sort of place where, when we were walking out the door, they would make sure we had had enough to eat.
The home itself, by the way, had belonged to H.H. Hewitt, who was the founder and president of the Hewitt Rubber Co., Buffalo Brass Co. and seemingly belonged to every organization in the city at some point. He even had a horse that won the Kentucky Derby one year!
The Restoration
Joe liked to call what was going on at InnBuffalo “preservation in progress.” While they were restoring the Hewitt Mansion (and, ultimately, turning it into InnBuffalo), they uncovered hand painted stencilling, gold leaf, silk damask, and more.
This is what you get when you have a home that’s well over 100 years old, and yet remained largely untouched before it came into their possession for a very long time.
What I clearly gathered from talking to Joe was that he (and Ellen) are passionate about sharing the stories that existed prior to this place ever being “theirs.” They treated the InnBuffalo like a museum that they happened to curate much more than “owners.” In my humble opinion, this place works because they’re strived to highlight the passages of the text that make this place unique, rather than erase it.
Hanging out in some of the common areas, I often felt as I was whisked back in time, and perhaps sipping on a whiskey before heading to an old fashioned train station, rather than being merely steps away from a hip area in Buffalo.
There are people that you meet on your travels that stay with you, and I feel awfully honoured that Joe will be one of those people. His passion for this place is utterly palpable - so much so that I’ve been excited to write this article, and share it with him, since the moment we left.
Let’s take a look at some of the unique rooms on offer, shall we?
The Rooms and Suites an InnBuffalo
Art Nouveau West: Newly renovated marble and subway-tile bath with shower and heated floors in a room that sleeps two, and overlooks Layayette Avenue. This room actually connects to Art Nouveau East, which is essentially its twin - I know they mention can be used as an adjoining room for couples or families looking for a home away from home.
Frederick Law Olmsted: You’ve got windows all over this suite, so the natural light pours on in. This room has two queen beds and is named for Frederick Law Olmsted who designed Buffalo’s park system, and, historically speaking, is one of the most revered names in American landscape architecture.
Grover Cleveland: I didn’t know that Grover Cleveland hailed from Buffalo, but now I do! You’ve got a luxurious king bed in here, some beautifully restored hardwood floors, and classic curved walls to boot.
Hewitt (pictured above): This is where we had the pleasure of staying, and it’s like living in history. Bri immediately noticed the original quarter-sawn cherry wood which was perfectly intact. My personal favourite part was the needle-spray shower, which is like something I’ve never seen (nor experienced). Who knew it could be downright fun to shower? Some of the tile in this room is even highlighted with 24-carat gold. This room ranks up there as one of the most intriguing places we’ve ever spent the night.
Industrial Patent: This room had recently been finished when we arrived, and so Joe gave us the tour. It’s located on the lower level, and it’s named after Hewitt’s patents and related memorabilia that are on display in the room. The room is spacious and hip, complete with a couch, antique chair and table and a gorgeous bed.
Millard Fillmore: Named after the other president to hail from Buffalo (the one not named Grover Cleveland), this room offers two large windows that look right over the garden, as well as having a unique sitting area beside a elegant marble fireplace.
Sarah Dutro: Sarah Dutro was the wife of H.H. Hewitt, the original owner of this place. As they note on their site, “this is quite possibly the most beautiful of all of our suites.” You can chalk that up to the built in desk area that’s constructed entirely of blond mahogany. The bath is also a blast from the past, but in a very good way. This room offers a time warp, but doesn’t sacrifice any modern amenities, so you’ll be comfortable here, trust me.
The Fulton: A king size bed, a walk-in closet, and you’ve got robes and slippers to go along with it. This room has a private bath but isn’t an ensuite, so they mention that you may want to combine this with The Rose (queen bed, sitting area, two chairs, small desk), if you’re travelling as a family or with friends so that you can share a washroom between the two of you. You can book them together by selecting the “Fulton & Rose Wing.”
Charles Burchfield: This room was named after the local artist, and will feature his art. It’s a slightly smaller room, but still has a king sized bed, and also has a large closet so you can tuck your things away and enjoy the full breadth of the space.
Trunk: This used to be where the trunks/luggage was stored (hence the name), but now you can spend the night here. It’s one of the smaller rooms, but it’s very intimate, and many people enjoy the old-growth southern pine floors and panelled walls.
If you’re someone who wants to stay in places that are essentially replicas of each other, scattered all across the world, I will certainly not judge, but if you’re looking for something entirely different for your stay in Buffalo - well, you just found it.
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