An overnight stay in 2023 at the Boggs Mansion Bed & Breakfast on Pittsburgh’s North Side turned into a business venture for Evan and Bethany Addams.
“We stayed here just as a little getaway, even though we live close,” said Evan Addams, of Ben Avon. “The views are stunning. We are such fans of the house. Staying there connected us to the owners.”
That connection eventually led the Addamses — along with business partner and longtime friend Dan Croce of the North Side — to purchase the mansion in 2024.
Boggs Mansion is one of eight bed-and-breakfast properties they now own between Burlington, Vt., and St. Augustine, Fla., including The Inn on Negley in Shadyside. All are part of The Gather Company, which Evan Addams founded.
He said he and his wife stay in bed and breakfasts, as opposed to hotels, because of the “relationship, experience and personalized moments.”
Giving guests those amenities is the inspiration behind the company name, he said.
“It is titled as such to promote humans coming together, building relationships and finding belonging — as opposed to a more transactional or touchless experience that many big brands promote,” Addams said.
When the couple discovered Boggs Mansion was for sale by then-owners Jeff Stasko and Karl Kargle — who ran it for 25 years — they were definitely interested.
During their ownership, Stasko and Kargle carefully restored the mansion while preserving its history, said Teresa Kennedy, vice president of operations for The Gather Company, during a recent tour.
Since taking ownership, the Addamses and Croce have refreshed the property, starting with the first floor and moving on to the second-floor guest rooms. Renovations to the third floor are next.
The mansion features eight full suites: the Mr. Boggs Room, Mrs. Boggs Room, Emma’s Room, The Red Room, Executive Suite, Owner’s Suite, Back Suite and Mini Suite.
“As we serve a full breakfast, guests sit by the fire in the parlor as the premier seat or in the warmer months on the front porch overlooking the lake,” Addams said.
The parlor is Kennedy’s favorite space.
“I love all the houses for different reasons,” said Kennedy. “They all have their own beauty and grandeur. But when I sit in this parlor, I love the vibe of it and how it represents the history of the house.”
The mansion was built in 1888 by H.H. Richardson — who also designed the Allegheny County Courthouse — for Russell Boggs. Boggs and business partner Henry Buhl established a department store on the North Side, then known as Allegheny City, in 1869. The store was demolished in 1960 and that area became Allegheny Center Mall, now Nova Place.
Boggs also played a key role in developing Pittsburgh’s North Hills. The electric trolley line he built, known as the “Harmony Route,” ran from Pittsburgh to his hometown of Evans City and on to New Castle, according to the Boggs Mansion website.
He also owned a summer home in Sewickley Heights. When he died in 1922 from injuries suffered in a fall, his daughter sold the North Side townhouse to a seminary next door.
“I love the engagement and the way Boggs Mansion encourages people to live in the space and get to know the others who are staying in the house,” Kennedy said.
She said updates have focused on cosmetic refreshes while respecting the legacy of both the Boggs family and former owners Stasko and Kargle.
With the NFL Draft coming to Pittsburgh in April — much of it centered on the North Shore — most rooms are already booked for that week. All rooms are taken for April 23-24, Addams said.
Because of the mansion’s proximity to Acrisure Stadium, PNC Park and PPG Paints Arena, it is frequently booked on game days and weekends.
“People come back year after year because of the location and the convenience,” Kenney said. “It’s cozy and they can relax. They feel like they’re at home, sitting in the parlor and then walking upstairs to their bedroom.”
Rooms typically rent for about $200 a night, Addams said.
“We want these rooms to not just be functional but to be where you can sit and stay and create some memories,” Addams said.
Mrs. Boggs’s room is a mini-version of her husband’s, which is the most sought-after space, Kennedy said.
“It is the one people always like because it’s got the view,” Kennedy said.
Evan and Bethany Addams would definitely agree with that.
Boggs Mansion Bed & Breakfast is located at 604 W. North Ave., North Side
Details: boggsmansion.com or 412-231-6544