PROXIMITY TO SAN FRANCISCO

Leading north from San Francisco, the towering Golden Gate Bridge spans glistening Bay waters at the Pacific and then finally touches down in Marin, one of California’s most affluent counties and home to the successfully-operated San Anselmo Inn just 11 miles further via U.S. Highway 101.

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Although Marin is often portrayed as “elitist and exclusive,” the county is also known for its premier seashore open spaces, such as the 60,000 acre Point Reyes National Seashore – part of the 78,000 acre Golden Gate National Recreation Area --, and its unparalleled coastal frontage where the state’s famed, scenic Highway One twists, turns and bows before ever-changing, magnificent Pacific vistas. Traditionally a “bedroom community” for high-income San Francisco executives sporting some of the highest median household incomes in the state, Marin increasingly sees its working residents taking advantage of the ever-expanding “Highway 101 urbanized corridor” that extends northward into Sonoma County and the Santa Rosa metropolitan area.

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Nestled along Ross Valley’s San Anselmo Creek at the foot of Mt. Tamalpais sits the charming town of San Anselmo. Incorporated in 1907, just two years after the San Anselmo Inn was first built, the town originally served as a pioneering silent film capital where, in the early 1900s, “The Two-Gun Man” and “Cowpuncher’s Law” were made. The old Tamalpais Theatre opened in 1923 with Gloria Swanson’s “The Hummingbird.” In 1892, the San Francisco Theological Seminary, one of California’s ten oldest institutions of higher learning, relocated to San Anselmo where its imposing, castle-like campus architecture – within walking distance of the Inn -- remains a historic town landmark and sought-after wedding ceremony venue. Due to its proximity to the Seminary, the San Anselmo Inn often hosts receptions for and houses guests attending weddings held at the San Francisco Theological Seminary.

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Today’s upscale San Anselmo, with Mt. Tamalpais dominating the skyline to the south, retains its coveted small-town charm, counting a population of only approximately 12,500 in year 2000. The community further distinguishes itself as Northern California’s Antique Capital, with over 130 antique dealers; Sunset Magazine readers have voted San Anselmo “Best in the West” for antiquing. San Anselmo boasts some of the finest schools, and its traditional residential neighborhoods are handsomely developed along beautifully treed, winding streets.

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Commanding an enviable central location well within the town’s historic shopping and business district, the European-style San Anselmo Inn, flanked by tony boutiques, popular restaurants, quaint side-walk cafes and inviting wine tasting rooms, sits prominently along San Anselmo Avenue, known locally as “The Avenue.” San Anselmo Avenue, in turn, parallels Sir Francis Drake Boulevard that itself connects to Highway 101, the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, the famed City by the Bay.

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The well-maintained, successfully-operated,15 guest room San Anselmo Inn represents the town’s only licensed commercial lodging and enjoys a notable 50% repeat guest business derived primarily from tourists and local residents with visiting family. Its leased 60-seat restaurant and state-of-the-art commercial kitchen plus extra meeting room allow the Inn to serve the hospitality needs of town residents and visitors alike.

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The C-2 commercially-zoned San Anselmo Inn conforms to town building restrictions that permit no more than two stories. Its 9,030 square foot building offers two public entries, one facing north on “The Avenue” that leads directly into its restaurant dining room and alcove with built-in bar, the other found nearby but to the building’s west side down a lushly landscaped walkway that takes guests immediately into the lodging’s lobby reception area.

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FIRST FLOOR/Public: Behind the restaurant seating area sits the commercial kitchen with stainless steel appliances and commercial grade eight-burner range. A separate “meeting room,” also found along this same east wall, offers flexible space that can be leased out for small meetings and conferences. Presently, this meeting room is used for storage. First story restrooms for patrons are considered part of the restaurant. On this same first floor but along the building’s west side and directly behind the Inn’s lobby is a manager’s office, two guest rooms, including one accessible by wheelchair, storage, laundry and side emergency exit.

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FIRST FLOOR/Private: Toward the rear of this first floor is the two-bedroom, one bath manager’s/owner’s quarters that include a living room with fireplace, a large, fully-equipped kitchen, dining room (kitchen opens up to dining room so this area also could be classified a “great” room) and a private exit/entry that leads to three-car parking with driveway.

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SECOND FLOOR/Public: The second level contains the remaining 13 guest rooms, all with private baths except for two that share a bath facility that includes a tub with shower and a separate toilet. Located toward the front of the Inn‘s top floor are two suites, one with two bedrooms, the other with a sitting room that is furnished with a useful sofa bed. There is a staircase at the rear of this second story for use as an exit.

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After their purchase in 2000, the current owners steadily increased the Inn’s business and generally took full advantage of their distinct competitive edge, being the only licensed commercial lodging in San Anselmo. They have continuously leased the restaurant premises to allow for added income and, as a result of placing the Inn on the market, have now only a flexible, month-to-month lease with their current restaurant tenant. Building improvements have included installation of dual-pane windows, new electrical, new fire alarms and smoke detectors, replacement of the gas mantle heating system with electrical baseboard heaters, replacement of all guestroom doors to solid core wood and costly upgrades to the commercial kitchen. The current Innkeepers also remodeled one of the first floor guest rooms to make it wheelchair accessible, conforming to ADA standards.

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The historic, European-style San Anselmo Inn presents an unusual opportunity to a well-qualified, entrepreneur/aspiring Innkeeper who understands the supreme value of a location that commands premium proximity to San Francisco, one of the world’s premier, international destinations for business travellers and tourists alike. That the successfully-operated, well-maintained San Anselmo Inn counts no local lodging competition, enjoys a prominent location along the most exclusive “Avenue” of its upscale, charming, small town, -- which is itself situated centrally within one of California’s most affluent counties --, includes 15 guest rooms, a 60-seat restaurant with state-of-the-art commercial kitchen and manager’s/owner’s quarters -- all of these amenities plus an unusually favorable asking price of only $498/square foot and a FULLY ASSUMABLE LOAN account for and underscore the current opportunity and continued growth potential offered today by the San Anselmo Inn.

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