Wendy Piotrowski and Andrew Machanic confirmed that they will close the Pinwheel, their Western-influenced breakfast and lunch spot in Essex, on November 20. The couple operated the Swingin’ Pinwheel on Center Street in Burlington from 2014 to 2021 and then ran the Sweet Wheels Donuts bus before relaunching a suburban version of their daytime restaurant at 4 Carmichael Street, Suite 106, in early 2025.
Customers can still place orders at the Pinwheel for Thanksgiving catering until the closing date. Machanic, 58, said he might continue catering for Christmas if November demand is strong.
The couple attributed their decision to labor shortages. “We just haven’t had enough staff to manage how busy we are,” said Piotrowski, 44.
They quietly put the restaurant on the market in May for $225,000. Machanic said they still hope to sell the business or “at least the equipment.”
The Pinwheel and its Burlington predecessor brought something unique to Vermont’s dining scene with their American West décor and Machanic’s creative breakfast and lunch dishes, influenced by years of cooking out West on guest ranches and resorts. Menu favorites included eggs Cassidy with corn cakes, the plate-size Haystack Hashbrown, signature jam-dolloped pinwheel pastries and panini-style Wafflini sandwiches, made with pastry instead of bread and pressed in a waffle iron.
Piotrowski said the couple are unlikely to open another restaurant. In her words, “Andrew has been cooking professionally for 40 years and is looking to switch it up now.”
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