In the mid 1800's, Jonathon and Alice Stewart lived as tenants in a small, one story dwelling on the site of the current Nestle Inn. In 1896, Jonathon, a carpenter, built their residence as a two family home adjoining two structures together so that their families could live close to each other. They lived in the home until 1910. The entire house was then rented to a long series of short-term tenants including Carl F. Mellian, a machinist and Grant Kelner, a cigarmaker. Undocumented, but repeated as history, the house also served as a boarding house for young women who came to Indianapolis during the turn of the century to work at the Real Silk glove factory located close by on Park street.
In 2000, Steve and Barb Tegarden purchased the home and lovingly restored the home to a five room Inn for their first retirement adventure after serving in the field of education for many years. For ten years, they welcomed visitors and friends to the Inn and helped to make Nestle Inn the #1 bed and breakfast in Indianapolis.
In 2011, Robert and Leesa Smith, pictured above, purchased the Inn and look forward to continuing Nestle Inn's reputation for providing sincere hospitality amidst Mass Avenue's art and independent restaurant district. Individualized service and a modern and comfortable experience is what this urban B&B offers to travellers from Indiana and beyond. Robert is a psychotherapist and a 29 year career firefighter/paramedic and Leesa is an Innkeeper with over 29 years of experience in the hospitality industry as well as business and marketing.