We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cord Weiss. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cord below.
Cord, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?
Sitting on the table in the inn is an hourglass filled with sand. I find myself frequently walking by and turning it over to watch the grains of sand slowly trickle to the other side. Life is like that sand, moving in one direction as the minutes pass by. My minutes are precious and I’ve found early on that I never found happiness in “regular” things, which means, I can’t imagine myself working a “regular” job. I wouldn’t choose to dedicate the hours of my life working in a position that didn’t bring me satisfaction.
Being a business owner isn’t easy by any means, but it brings with it a great sense of pride. My family and I often work more hours in a day at the inn than someone would in a typical job. However, the work is often filled with laughter and enjoyable tasks that don’t necessarily feel like work. Our work brings joy to people through the experiences we provide, food we cook, our clean and unique rooms and environment, and interesting conversation. It’s tremendously rewarding and often, it doesn’t even feel like work….though my wife might argue about that while folding piles of laundry.
There is nothing wrong with choosing the path to working a regular job or to be a business owner. Each has its own benefits and challenges. But, being a business owner has personally brought me more happiness than if I worked a regular job.
Cord, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Becoming an innkeeper is a relatively new venture, but a longtime goal. We both had different careers, which we worked at diligently for years, saving and dreaming along the way. My journey into ownership of The Tandem Bike Inn started with a deep-rooted love for the Jersey shore and a passion for providing exceptional experiences. These were shared interests with my family. After years of dreaming, planning, and hard work, we had the incredible opportunity to purchase the Inn.
What truly sets us apart is the seamless blend of history and modern comfort. Our inn is a historic building built in 1889 that echoes with stories of the past, yet adorned with modern décor to ensure a comfortable and luxurious stay for our guests. It’s a unique fusion that offers the best of both worlds. Our rooms are exceptionally clean and the location is just minutes from the beach, the marina, and Main St. Belmar. The NJ Transit coastal train line is walking distance from the inn, which conveniently runs to Manhattan, Newark airport, and shore towns such as Asbury Park, Point Pleasant, Bradley Beach, Ocean Grove, and Spring Lake.
At our inn, we’re dedicated to providing nothing short of exceptional service. From the moment our guests step through the door, they’re greeted with warmth and hospitality that extends throughout their entire stay. We pride ourselves on anticipating their needs and going above and beyond to exceed their expectations.
One of our standout features is undoubtedly our culinary delights of breakfast. My wife, Dedra, cooks all of the meals, and is often asked if she attended culinary school. Her creative, artistic dishes are both delicious and are curated to be a memorable experience in themselves. We offer breakfast service in our dining room and on our wrap around porch that catches the ocean breeze.
In addition to our cozy accommodations and exceptional service, we offer complimentary beach passes and bikes for our guests to explore Belmar, New Jersey. It’s our way of enhancing their experience and ensuring they make the most of their time with us. We have a variety of bikes from adorable beach cruisers to tandem bikes.
What am I most proud of? It’s hard to choose, but I’d say it’s the joy and satisfaction we see in our guests’ faces as they create cherished memories during their stay. That, to me, is the true measure of our success.
Whether seeking a peaceful retreat, a romantic getaway, or an adventure-filled vacation, we have something special to offer to create a lasting memory.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
My cofounder and business partner is my wife, Dedra. Owning the Tandem Bike Inn is a family affair. We are a team, operating the day-to-day tasks and making decisions together. As a couple, we knew we wanted a livelihood that centered around our family, where we could depend upon each other and move collectively towards a common goal.
I suppose you can say that our two daughters are our silent mini-business partners. They help out quite a bit, whether it be chores like helping us keep the flower beds looking pretty or tying the bows on our delicious cookie surprise bags.
Dedra and I both came from different careers before becoming innkeepers. I own and operate a music production company, producing live bands for events. Dedra was a compounding pharmacist in a lab. We both work in our previous occupations, but in different capacities, which allows us to operate the inn seamlessly. We consciously chose to restructure our lives and join as business partners in this innkeeping venture after years of independent working in more stress-prone jobs. We revel that we can work together in a happy and fun environment together.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
We’ve been fortunate to have multiple avenues that bring wonderful guests through our doors. One of the most gratifying has been the incredible power of word-of-mouth. There’s something truly special about a recommendation from a satisfied guest—it’s like a trusted friend extending an invitation.
Our online presence has played a significant role as well. I design websites, and built The Tandem Bike Inn website myself. Through our website and social media platforms, we’ve been able to showcase the unique charm of our inn to a broader audience, attracting guests who resonate with our story and offerings. It’s been a delightful journey watching our community grow both offline and online.
Belmar, New Jersey is filled with wonderful people and business owners. I’ve forged many relationships with local business here, working together to provide recommendations for restaurants, tours and adventure packages, and shopping.
Additionally, the loyalty of repeat guests has been invaluable. Their return visits speak volumes about the experiences we’ve provided and the connections we’ve forged. Here, we treat our guests like extended members of our family, welcoming them to our home as if it were their own home-away-from-home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tandembikeinn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tandembikeinn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TandemBikeInn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@opalsandclovers
- Other: Pinterest:
www.pinterest.com/thetandembikeinnX
www.x.com/the_tandem_bike
