For many, Wyandotte is a city that is proud to stand on its own.

After all, the city has long had its own power and water systems, independent of the larger utilities that serve surrounding communities.

In the 1980s, the city started its own cable system. The next decade, the city opened its first independent golf course.

So in a way, it makes sense that if the city is going to have anyplace for out-of-town travelers to stay, it wouldn’t be tied to a big, nationwide chain. It would be a small, historic and independent business.

That’s exactly what guests who stay at the Bishop-Brighton Bed and Breakfast will find.

Bishop-Brighton, located at 2709 Biddle Ave., has been open five years and is owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Gerry and Vicki Lucas. The business has been a labor of love for the couple. They not only maintain the three-bedroom inn, but also live above it.

Still, the business was not the first one considered by the Lucases. Twenty-five years ago, the couple considered buying a cottage resort in northern Michigan but opted against it. Still, the process planted the seed of owning a hospitality-based business as they approached their retirement.

Bishop-Brighton is housed in a nearly 110-year-old Tudor-style home at the corner of Biddle Avenue and Superior. It is within walking distance of the city’s downtown area, Bishop Park and directly across from the city’s newest businesses, Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Creamery.

And if anyone is surprised that Wyandotte has a B&B–or that there is a need for such a place in the city–they need only ask Vicki about the history of Bishop-Brighton.

“The last time I went through the journals we keep in the rooms, we’ve had visitors from 11 countries and more than 35 states,” she said.

And while the couple run the business as partners, the family connection doesn’t end there. Each of the three bedrooms is named for some member of the family.

• The Betty Jean: Named for Gerry’s mother.
• The June Constance: Named for Vicki’s mother.
• The Esther Amelia: Named for Vicki’s maternal grandmother.

For the most part, the people who stay at Bishop-Brighton fall into one of three categories.

First, there are those who come to Wyandotte for some type of gathering, such as a class reunion, a wedding, a funeral or the holidays.

Second, there are those who come to Wyandotte for business. Over the years, the Bishop-Brighton has hosted a number of executives from BASF who are visiting for extended stays.

Third, the Bishop-Brighton also hosts a number of travelers who are coming through Michigan and want to see some Detroit-area attractions. To meet the needs of those visitors, the B&B offers several different packages that include a stay at the Bishop-Brighton and tickets for The Henry Ford, the Detroit Institute of Arts or the new Detroit Science Center.

“We are one of only three B&Bs listed on the Henry Ford’s website,” Vicki said. “And we are the only one where every bedroom has a private bathroom. People really like that.”

While the Bishop-Brighton has a number of amenities that provide for a quiet, relaxing stay, Vicki realizes that a bed and breakfast stay is not for everyone. There’s no laundry service, no swimming pool, no room service and no valet.

“Oh, we can tell right away if they’re not the B&B type,” she said, with a laugh. “That’s fine. We know that.”

But over the course of five years, enough people have been the B&B type to convince the Lucases that they made the perfect choice when they became innkeepers.

“We love it,” Vicki said. “Some of the people who stay here, they really get to be like family.”

For package or room rates or more information, call Bishop-Brighton Bed and Breakfast at 734-284-7309 or visit its website.

The inn also hosts a concert series with the next one set for 7 p.m. Feb. 11. It will feature jazz from the Great American Songbook. Performing will be Grammy nominee pianist James Dapogny, celloist Mike Karoub and vocalist Natalie Rankine. Attendees can bring their own favorite bottle of wine to sip. At the conclusion of the concert, desserts, coffee and tea will be served. Tickets are $25 each and are available online or by calling.