INN FOR A REAL TREAT

Hubbard B&B provides getaway close to home

By LINDA M. LINONIS

Vindicator Staff Writer

Impeccable service put Julia’s Bed and Breakfast in Hubbard on the Four Diamond Award list of AAA East Central for the fourth consecutive year.

“You’re judged on service, cleanliness and appearance,” said Teri Moser, who is innkeeper with her husband, Paul, at Julia’s.

AAA evaluators gauge tangible services, and guests at Julia’s get that and gracious hospitality.

“We want to make people feel special,” Teri Moser said.

And this is how the local couple — she graduated from Boardman High School and he from Springfield High School — accomplish that.

“I just love to entertain,” Teri Moser said.

She transfers that skill from her personal life to the broader one at the bed and breakfast.

She and her husband came by the innkeeping position through fate and being guests at Julia’s.

“We were here for our second wedding anniversary,” Teri Moser said, adding that they heard that Julia’s was looking for innkeepers. “My husband told me I was born to do this.”

He also has a part-time job.

Since the couple took on the job four years ago, the inn has earned the Four Diamond Award. Julia’s opened as a bed and breakfast in 2003.

“It was a single family dwelling before that,” Teri Moser said, explaining that the Victorian house was built in the 1800s. It was a home to the Tods and Powells, affluent area families.

The bed and breakfast is now owned by J.V. Ferrara, an area businessman. The innkeeper said he named it for his mother, Julia. A stained-glass window centered with a photo of his parents, Julia and Joseph, highlights a downstairs sitting room.

Julia’s has six guest rooms, and three are suites. The suites have a king-size bed, fireplace, in-room Jacuzzi, full bathroom and sitting area, and terry-cloth robes are provided. All have names — Victorian, Napoleon, Governor’s, Golf View, Julia’s and Plantation.

Each room has a journal in it, and guests are invited to share.

“It’s feedback for us and other guests,” Teri Moser said.

Teri Moser said the B&B uses the slogan “Get Away without Going Away.” She said many guests live in the area, but just want a nice getaway. “People tell us they feel like they’re somewhere else,” Teri Moser said.

New parents are among guests who may need a break but don’t want to be too far from home. Honeymooners also are guests at the inn.

“We have a lot of local clientele,” she said.

Guests are greeted in their rooms by what Teri Moser calls “bed letters.” The tent card mentions the guests’ names, welcomes them and lists activities — time of a massage or tee time at the adjoining Pine Lakes Golf Course.

“It’s one of the biggest compliments we get,” Teri Moser said of personalizing information by using guests’ names.

For repeat guests, who are tracked by computer, the cards read “welcome back” or “welcome home.”

“Many guests tell us they feel like this is their house,” the innkeeper said. “We want to make that personal connection.”

She said the rooms include various amenities such as body oils for use in the Jacuzzi and snacks in the rooms. There are some 350 movie DVDs for guests to select from.

“We want guests to feel pampered,” she said.

Guests also may request a special candlelight dinner; Paul Gobel, a free-lance chef, caters these and other events at Julia’s.

A breakfast tray with coffee, juice, muffins and fresh flowers is at guest rooms at 9 a.m. weekdays.

“It’s continental during the week,” Teri Moser said.

On weekends, a short-order cook makes eggs to order along with pancakes and other breakfast foods.

“We eat hearty breakfasts,” Teri Moser said.

Julia’s offers various specials including seasonal ones. Wine and champagne are served with in-room packages. Teri Moser said the economy prompted a “breeze-in” special from Sunday through Thursday. There also are Couples Stay and Play and golf packages.

Julia’s B&B is host to wedding ceremonies at the three connecting gazebos, 120 feet long.

“We have large tent receptions on the grounds,” Teri Moser said.

Top honor: Inn Walden in Aurora received the Five Diamond Award.

Four Diamond Awards: Along with Julia’s Bed and Breakfast in Hubbard, winners were Georgian Manor Inn in Norwalk, Red Maple Inn in Burton and Intercontinenal Hotel & Conference Center and the Ritz-Carlton, both Cleveland.

Judging: AAA East Central office said about 65 tourism editors working with AAA and its Canadian counterpart made unannounced evaluations of lodging facilities and restaurants seeking the AAA stamp of approval.

More on Julia’s: For more information on Julia’s Bed and Breakfast, 6219 W. Liberty St., Hubbard, call (330) 534-1342 or visit www.juliasbb.com.