Josie Fastner is on a mission to bring kindness and community wherever she goes, that mission reflects in her latest creative endeavor, an inn off of cozy Saragossa Street. Josie, a native of Minnesota, remodeled the Old Saragossa after realizing the desire to create a space for people to enjoy the beauty of historic St. Augustine and have a relaxing space to retreat to. Josie, a lover of community, kindness, and her rescue chihuahua, Peanut, always knew she wanted to work with people, with the small quirks that make us all human and the different ways we can connect with each other, like hand holding and wordless conversations.
Josie wants to know everything about everyone. She loves tight-knit families, close friends, neighborhood communities, introverts, and animal lovers. She loves the ways in which we protect those close to us and express ourselves through style. She loves the uniqueness of each individual and the similarities and differences that come together to form communities. Josie loves love. She loves to spread love, witness love, and cultivate love through her work. Josie discovered her love for hospitality and interior decorating as a little girl, poring through magazines and pulling out images of her favorite designs. Josie gets immense joy out of accommodating guests and making people happy. She began working on the Lions and Lanterns after a difficult time in her life, and shortly discovered that this is what she was always meant to do. Getting to participate in and bear witness to the love between her guests fills her with purpose. At the Lions and Lanterns, Josie orchestrates love stories.
