Shena Corrado is the new Innkeeper and General Manager at Main Street Inn, 401 W. Main St., Kutztown, which has also brought a few changes to the Inn.
Corrado is the daughter of the original Innkeeper and current owners, Pam and Angelo Corrado.
“My Mom and Dad have taken more of a backseat to the daily management. I’ve stepped in to manage the Inn on a daily basis,” said Shena.
After graduating from Kutztown High School, Shena spent a couple of years in San Francisco, Calif., and finished her studies in marketing at Kutztown University. She worked a couple of years at the Inn and discovered she really enjoyed hospitality. She earned her masters in hospitality at Florida International University. She became involved in the South Beach Wine and Food Festival.
“I stayed a few more years before I started to miss Kutztown and the small community,” she said.
Shena returned to Kutztown and began working at the Inn, then worked in the insurance field before once again returning to the Inn. Ultimately, she discovered what she really wanted to do was run the Inn. She inherited the Innkeeper duties from her mother in March 2015.
“I try to stay active in Kutztown because I really like it here. Promoting Kutztown helps promote our business as well,” said Shena. “I have done a lot in the past, a lot of different experiences so I think I’m good at wearing a lot of different hats which is something you need to do to be a small business manager.”
“She’s doing a great job,” said Pam.
“I like working with family,” said Shena.
A few changes at the Inn include privacy curtains for the balconies, converting the parlor into a welcome lounge, king sized beds in more of the bedrooms and the room with two twins will be converted to a queen in January. In addition to continental breakfast during the week, there is a fully served breakfast on weekends.
“We’re hoping to enclose the courtyard so that it’s still open and airy but it would be closed to the weather elements,” said Shena. Their hope is to use the courtyard as more of an event venue.
Shena also has a blog for the Inn, http://kutztownmainstreetinn.tumblr.com/, and getting more active on social media.
“I’m working on a community promotions program which is in the beginning phases. I’m hoping to get some of the local businesses and events and things going on in town in front of our guests more by means of a promotions card,” said Shena.
Shena said guests often ask what there is to do in town. “(The promotions program) let’s the businesses control the message a little bit more but we’re the medium that can advertise… bring more business to the town.”
She would like to put together packages to improve the experience for guests, packages like a wine tour or a beer package to visit the local breweries. Also, they hope to host events with local businesses.
“I really want to get the community more involved and cross promote as much as we can,” said Shena. “(Guests will) see more than just the Inn. They’ll see what else (Kutztown) has to offer.”
Main Street Inn will also offer another place to stay close to Kutztown.
Pam is starting a smaller bed and breakfast at the Corrado residence about four miles outside of Kutztown. “Low key, continental breakfast only. It’s a totally different setting. It’s in the country. It is a guest house,” said Pam.
“It’s for people who may not want to be right in town and because we don’t have as many offerings as we have here, we’re able to keep the price lower so it gives people an option,” said Shena.
For more information about Main Street Inn, call at 610-683-0401 or visit www.KutztownMainStreetInn.com. Follow Shena Corrado’s blog at http://kutztownmainstreetinn.tumblr.com/.
