After years of laying dormant, the historic James Lee House in Victorian Village is open for business as a bed and breakfast.
The home at the corner of Adams and Orleans was purchased from the city by José and Jennifer Velázquez for $1 in 2012, and since then, the couple has invested about $2 million in restoring the home to be used as an upscale bed and breakfast.
There are five suites inside the bed and breakfast, one on the first floor and four on the second floor. José and Jennifer Velázquez reside on the third floor.
The James Lee House was built in 1848 as a two-story brick farmhouse, but additions were added on over the years to create the mansion it is today. The home is named for riverboat captain James Lee, who bought the home in 1890. Later, the home served as the Memphis Academy of Art (now Memphis College of Art), and it operated there until 1959.
