Waitsfield Inn

Commercial Loan Program 

Walking through the Waitsfield Inn, the building’s history is front and center. Or, as owner Frank Giubardo calls it, herstory. 

Giubardo has brought with him a juxtaposition that just works — honoring the past while incorporating new elements. The inn’s 16 rooms are named after influential Vermonters, including the young woman who lived, gave birth, and died in the inn back in its days as a seminary. 

But Giubardo, who moved to the Green Mountains from Hawaii, has also welcomed the “new,” with plans to build a yoga and events barn, Ayurvedic healing space and much more. 

“This will be a completely alternative inn,” he said. 

Acquiring the inn in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic was its own challenge. Because it had shuttered its doors before he took over, Giubardo didn’t have strong statistics on profitability. Fortunately, a decent reputation and Giubardo’s detailed business plan eased some of the uncertainty. Since Sept. 1 of 2021, nearly 1,300 bookings have come in. 

As a participant in VEDA’s direct loan program, Giubardo said loan officer Eun-Young Denny has served as a great resource, as she genuinely wants to see small businesses succeed. 

Giubardo found VEDA’s approach to financing “totally refreshing,” saying it was much different than that of more conservative banks in Hawaii; having that close connection with Denny provided for a nice working relationship — and one that was more productive. 

Staying with his theme of “herstory,” Giubardo said working with VEDA, who has a strong female presence in its leadership, was something he applauds and appreciates. Women in finance present an urgency to get things done, he said, and do it without ego. While taking over an historic inn means there are many things that should not be changed — the wide, wooden floorboards, for example, are here to stay — there is much work to be done, from websites and booking software to finding ways to breathe new life into an old building. 

And though Giubardo embraces the inn’s aesthetics, he said he wants the ambiance to come off as cozy — it’s not a Norman Rockwell painting, it’s a place to relax and enjoy the stay. Warm, funky decor, lighter and simpler bed linens and plans for a greenhouse-look in windows will make this a reality. Subtle changes make a big difference, Giubardo said; he’s not looking to radically change things. 

In addition to growing the plant-based kitchen, Giubardo wants to offer a “supper club,” with themed dinners open to guests and the community. He hopes to host open mic nights and poetry slams, and he wants to bring the historical elements to today’s audience. He is working to gather stories of people who have experience with the inn — particularly those of the female persuasion — and would love to create a podcast. 

So far, people have been receptive, perhaps even more so than Giubardo expected. After acting sheepish about the vegan-only breakfasts, he remembered one guest saying, “Stop apologizing.” 

So he did, and, with help from VEDA, the rest is herstory. 

“This will be a completely alternative inn.” 

~ Frank Guibardo