Meet Mary Baskin of The English Merchants Inn in Waxahachie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Baskin.

Mary, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
About 25 or so years ago my husband moved from Highland Park to a historic home in the small community of Waxahachie 30 minutes south of Dallas. At that time, he was a lawyer with the Jackson Walker firm in Downtown Dallas. We loved the small town community because it had not been absorbed into Dallas like everything to the north. We were in Waxahachie for seven years and had four children during this time period.

The home we purchased was built between the years of 1912-1916 and it is a mission bungalow style. The man who built the home was from Manchester, England and a cotton merchant. This was the time period when cotton was king.

Life moved on and for business reasons we moved away but I remember saying to my husband at the time wouldn’t it be fun to have a Bed and Breakfast here when the children are gone. Two years ago, we saw that the house was on the market and we approached the owner. We took a look at the house and it felt like not time had passed.

Six weeks later we were back in Waxahachie and four weeks later we were open for business. I knew that the layout of the house would be perfect for what we wanted to do.

My background is in the interior design field. I am an interior designer and in addition I was a regional editor for Meredith Publishing for a number of years producing interior design stories for magazines such as Traditional Home, Country Home and Better Homes and Gardens.

When our daughter graduated from high school she left the states to study in London. I would travel to visit her whenever possible. I had long been interested in figuring out the International Antique Markets and Fairs of Europe and I began learning about the buying and shipping process. As a result, I started my business The Vagabond International and I have been taking groups to France, England, Ireland and Morocco (among other destinations) for the past ten years. I started importing mixed pattern vintage china from England and sold on One kings Lane and was a top seller in their vintage market.

Fast forward to today, my husband Howard honored my wish to come back to Waxahachie to realize my dream of owning The English Merchants Inn. I thought the name tied with the history of the former owner to me to all of my interests. I want to be more than your average B and B which is why I call it an inn. I am having a great time and love being back in our former home. One thing I have learned in life is that there is time for everything and I am enjoying this new phase!!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our biggest problem is in overcoming the thought of going south of Dallas. All of the growth is to the north and not many venture our way. Slowly we are gaining a following and really want to reach out to the young people as Waxahachie is a great getaway from Dallas for a recharge weekend. We have a number of places to eat and shop or you can simply have a complimentary glass or two of wine at the inn and enjoy the surroundings.

I travel to London often and I am always looking for fun ideas to add to what we offer to our guests. Soon we will be offering a down the rabbit hole tipsy tea time.

The English Merchants Inn – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We don’t want to be thought of as a granny b and b. The interior is quirky and friendly. We are known for our breakfast and hospitality.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Raising my four children! They are amazing.

Pricing:

• Rooms from $150.00-$240.00

Contact Info:

• Address: 717 West Main Street, Waxahachie 75165
• Website: www.theenglishmerchantsinn.com
• Phone: 2543660229
• Instagram: mary baskin englishmerchantsinn
• Facebook: The English Merchant’s Inn

Image Credit:
Brent Hughes Photography

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