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Since 1998Two houses, one family
Jay and Jennifer Yilmaz have been the innkeepers here from the first night. Their three children grew up in these houses — and have suites named after them.
A corner of the inn.
It began as the Jacaranda House
In May 1998, Jay and Jennifer Yilmaz opened the Jacaranda House, a three-room bed and breakfast at 8 Holbrook Street.
They were excited and inspired at the prospect of residing and hosting guests there — especially because it sat next to what had long been the home of Mr. L.L. Bean at 6 Holbrook Street.
By the end of that first year they had changed the name to the Applewood Inn. After much sweat and energy, they found their work was beginning to pay off: guests were just as eager to recommend the Applewood to their friends as they were to return themselves.
Ten Holbrook Street.
Then they bought the house next door
Soon Jay and Jennifer found themselves with their first child, Aidan, born in May of 2001. That same year, they acquired the building beside the Applewood and expanded the inn.
In the summer of 2002, the second building of the Applewood Inn was opened to guests. The new building was upgraded, and featured rooms with more deluxe amenities. Some rooms have Jacuzzi tubs, most rooms now include king-sized beds, and all have private baths.
The inn has a Great Room for gathering and dining. The dining table is a custom-designed, Maine-made cherry harvest table with seating for twenty-six.
Before the inn, there was a hot dog stand
Jay graduated from Randolph-Macon College on Sunday, May 30, 1993. Jay and Jenn traveled to Freeport on Monday, and on Tuesday, June 1, 1993, they began operating one hot dog stand on Main Street, beside the Polo/Ralph Lauren building. (Jenn continued her studies and graduated in May 1996.)
Over the years that one cart became a food vending business with multiple Freeport locations — regular and veggie hot dogs, sausage, grilled chicken bombs, lobster and crab rolls, burgers, Jenn’s homemade cookies and Rice Krispies treats. The drinks menu grew from soda to lemonade, limeade, strawberry lemonade, iced cappuccino, fresh brewed iced tea, assorted juices and Maine micro-brewed root beer.
In 2006 they began donating 25 cents from every bottle of spring water they sold — to the Freeport Rotary Club, for its water filter program in Santa Barbara, Honduras, and to other local charitable causes. More than $7,000 has gone that way.
The sign in October, three houses in on Holbrook Street.
The family the rooms are named after
Jay and Jenn have since expanded their family with two daughters, Alev and Sophia — and the yellow labs, Little Miss Abigail-Wiggle-Bottoms of Stovers (Abby) and her daughter Lilly.
All three children have suites named after them, and their entries in the room list are written by their parents, which tells you most of what you need to know about the place. Aidan recommends the bacon. Alev recommends the cinnamon sweet French toast. Sophie recommends everything.