How old is the oldest still-running business in the world?

[Dien Rice]

100 years?
200 years?

The answer might surprise you!

The answer is... the oldest (known) still-running business in the world is...

1,306 years old

(that's one thousand, three hundred and six years old)!

I thought I'd write that out, in case you thought I made a typo!

It's the Keiunkan hotel in Japan, which was started in the year 705, and is still running today!

Here's a recent article about it (with a photo) - unfortunately, the hotel is currently suffering from the effects of the Japanese earthquake (which has driven away tourists to Japan for the time being)...

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201105270205.html

Hopefully it can survive and keep going at least another 1,306 more years...!

How about in Europe?

Apparently, the oldest still-running business in Europe is a restaurant, in Austria. It's been serving meals now for an unbelievable 1,208 years!

The Stiftskeller St. Peter restaurant was started in the year 803...

While it no longer serves the 9th century menu, they are still old-fashioned, as their current menu is based on food of the 17th and 18th century...

You can read more about it here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiftskeller_St._Peter

http://www.stpeter-stiftskeller.at/index.php?id=7&L=1


(Above: At the Stiftskeller St. Peter, you can party like it's 1799!)

What about in the UK?

I'm not sure if this is definitive, but the Angel & Royal Hotel in Lincolnshire, England, dates back to 1203 (that's 808 years)!

More info is available here...

http://www.angelandroyal.co.uk/pages/history.php

How about in the USA?

Seaside Inn & Cottages in the state of Maine have been running since 1667 - that's 344 years!

If you want to stay there, their website is here...

http://www.theseasidecottages.com

Puritan dress optional!


(Above: some happy guests at Seaside Inn & Cottages! ...Just kidding! )

How about in Canada?

Well, the oldest company in Canada has been running since 1670 (that's 341 years)!

It started out in the fur trade, but as the fur trade died out around 100 years ago, it expanded its operations and is still going strong today...

The company is the Hudson's Bay Company. Nowadays, they own a bunch of Canadian retail chains, such as The Bay, Zellers, Home Outfitters, and Fields.

You can read more about them here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson%27s_Bay_Company

If you want to see other old but still running companies, check out this list...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_companies

Where will your business be in 1,306 years?

Best wishes!

Dien