Shelburne Steakhouse and Saloon has closed after a little more than a year in business, leaving a bumpy wake behind it.
Last month the eatery offered a “Jump On It” deal through WCAX that promised customers a $50 gift certificate for $25. Two hundred and seventy-five people purchased the deal, according to wcax.com. Two weeks later, a “closed for inventory” sign has appeared in the window, the restaurant’s owners are MIA and a few annoyed people have written Seven Days to say they feel shafted.
WCAX’s director of new media marketing, Christopher Smith, says he went through “all channels” to learn the story from the owners, only to receive a call back from a lawyer. (Seven Days was unable to reach the owners, Eric Fritzeen and JoAnne Paquette, for comment by press time.) Smith says anyone who purchased the deal — and hasn’t yet redeemed it — would receive credit in his or her “Jump On It” account.
Even before it closed, Shelburne Steakhouse wasn’t winning many fans. Recent 7 Nights user comments on the restaurant have been scathing: “What a terrible meal!” was the title of one, while another dubbed the Steakhouse “Worst place in ALL of VT.” Others implored, “Go elsewhere” and “Subway is next door.” Geesh.
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September may not be the best month to grab dinner and a movie in Williston. Oscars Bistro & Bar closed this month for retooling. “We had a good summer, but it wasn’t as strong as we thought it could be,” admits Harold Blank, co-owner of Oscars and its home, the Majestic 10 cinemas. “We’re simply trying to make Oscars perfect for where it is inside the movie theater.” The restaurant will reopen with a new menu on October 7.
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In brighter news, the perennially kinetic owners of the Skinny Pancake have launched a food truck on University Place at the University of Vermont. The funkily painted Airstream rolled out for the first time this Tuesday, selling sweet and savory crêpes, coffee drinks, loose-leaf teas and sodas. For the first week, all proceeds are being donated to the Intervale Center Farmers’ Recovery Fund.
This article appears in The Real Estate Issue 2011.
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