Bloser Mansion sold; will remain restaurant, bed-and-breakfast with new name

New Kensington’s historic Bloser Mansion has a new name but will remain a restaurant and a bed-and-breakfast under new owners.

Lost Dreams Awakening, founded in 2014 by the husband and wife team of VonZell Wade and Laurie Johnson-Wade, bought the mansion on Sixth Avenue in the Parnassus section of the city. Theyhave renamed it Sankofa Mansion.

The nearly $470,000 sale closed Feb. 14.

Proceeds from its operation will be used to help support Lost Dreams Awakening, a New Kensington-based nonprofit recovery community organization addressing substance use and mental health recovery.

Most of Lost Dreams Awakening’s funding is federal.

“I have colleagues all over the country that are shutting their doors,” Johnson-Wade said. “We have to take care of ourselves in light of the cuts in funding and the things that have been occurring in the nonprofit landscape. I really think it’s wise to look at ways of taking care of yourself.”

Wade called acquiring the mansion a significant milestone for the organization.

“This space represents more than just a property — it’s a symbol of renewal, resilience, and sustainability,” he said. “Our vision is to preserve its legacy while fostering workforce development in the hospitality industry.”

The mansion was built in 1921 for E.A. Bloser, a prominent businessman who owned Bloser Jewelry. Plans for it to become a bed-and-breakfast first began in 2019, with it opening in 2021. It had been for sale since 2023.

A new name was necessary because “Bloser Mansion” had been dissolved.

Derived from the Akan language of Ghana, “Sankofa” means “go back and get it.” Johnson-Wade said the name serves as a reminder of the importance of learning from the past to build a stronger future, and embodies Lost Dreams Awakening’s mission of healing, growth and second chances.

“It just fits,” she said.

There are eight rental rooms in the mansion, with half currently available and the other four being added shortly, Johnson-Wade said. They are already sold out for the U.S. Open, which will be held at Oakmont Country Club in Plum on June 12-15.

The restaurant, with seating for 50, is expected to be operating no later than June 1. It will offer American faire for breakfast and lunch; dinner may be added later, Johnson-Wade said.

The mansion also will be available for events, such as showers, as it was before.

“The place is magical,” Johnson-Wade said. “When you go in there, you feel like you’re somewhere else. It envelops you.”

One difference is that no alcohol will be served on the premises. Instead, there will be a coffee bar.

Having done a market analysis and a community assessment, no dishes will be “super expensive,” Johnson-Wade said.

“You want to keep prices comparable to the community you’re serving,” she said.

Most of the employees will be volunteers at the start, until capital is built up to pay them. A chef will be hired, but Johnson-Wade, who has a culinary background, doesn’t mind cooking, too.

It’s important that everything is done right, Johnson-Wade said.

“There’s no other option. It has to be done with excellence, and it has to be done by the letter of the law,” she said. “When you build on a solid foundation, you have a better chance of longevity.”