Every year we expect the high season for selling luxury properties to be March, April, May, end of August, September, October and November. This year the quieter months of June & July were particularly quiet so I wasn’t sure if we were perhaps going to have a quieter sales period in the second half of the year. However, like clockwork, the selling season kicked in about two weeks ago so we are off and running again.
Good news for Saint Helena. Toby and Lisa DeVore, owners of ‘The Tasting Room’ in New Orleans, moved here a year ago and have opened ‘The Saint’ bar & lounge on Main Street in the former space occupied by Napa Valley Extra Virgin. They serve wines and flights that highlight regions and varietals from Napa Valley to Bordeaux. Their menu is limited but looks interesting, offering charcuterie, cheese, caviar, main meals and dessert. The décor features comfortable sofas and chairs. They are located at 1351 Main Street, St. Helena and are open from 3pm to 11pm.
New hotels and applications for new hotels continue to somewhat dominate my monthly newsletters. Thanks to Paul Franson, we have learned that The Merchant family, owners of Indian Springs resort in Calistoga and the old glider port next to it, hope to fulfill their dream of building a fancy hotel on the old glider port property. They have submitted plans for a hotel with 170 guest rooms, restaurants, spa and an event center and a 22-unit apartment building that could be used as employee housing. Wouldn’t it be great if all the hotels could accommodate staff housing in their site plans. If approved, the site will include a public laundromat to replace the one currently operating on the property.