Richard Gere - Lowell Rejected Gere's B&b Plans

The Pretty Woman actor and his Law & Order star wife restored the building in Westchester County and opened the Bedford Post Inn in 2009, but Lowell wasn't keen on the idea at first as Gere had so many movie projects in the works.

Gere tells CNN, "She said no in the beginning. She said absolutely not."

Lowell adds, "It was crazy. It was a crazy thought. And to take it all on. And as I recall, Richard had to go off and shoot three movies... He basically abandoned me."

However, the couple decided to go ahead with the project and are glad they gave the building a new lease of life.

Gere adds, "It was a beautiful old building and it was just heartbreaking to see it fall apart..."