Chittenden County restaurant shuts down abruptly, less that a year after opening

RICHMOND ― A Richmond restaurant that opened less than a year ago in a space known for long-running eateries announced its abrupt closure this week.

“After much consideration and soul-searching, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors tonight. It is with both sadness and excitement that we bid farewell to this chapter of Vermont Fine,” owners Tom D’Angelo and Chelsea Morgan posted Wednesday afternoon on social media. “Tom and Chelsea, the hearts behind Vermont Fine, are moving on to embrace new adventures.”

The owners did not say what those new adventures might entail. They did indicate that the Vermont Fine space will see a new venture soon. The post said that “a new concept is on the horizon” for the farmhouse-style building off U.S. 2. “The restaurant space will soon be transformed into something fresh and exciting, brought to life by passionate individuals eager to create a unique dining experience.”

Morgan and D’Angelo opened Vermont Fine in October in the space that previously housed the Kitchen Table Bistro and, before that, Chequers Restaurant. Each of those establishments had runs nearing two decades.

Restaurants, of course, have faced multiple obstacles since the COVID-19 pandemic shut them down for several weeks in the spring of 2020. Supply-chain backlogs, rising prices and in particular a lingering shortage of workers in the hospitality industry have dogged restaurants for most of the past three years.

Morgan and D’Angelo came to the farm-to-table concept of Vermont Fine with plenty of experience in the state’s restaurant industry. A native of Reading, Morgan worked in restaurants in Woodstock before landing at upscale establishments such as Hen of the Wood and Bleu Northeast Kitchen in Burlington. D’Angelo, a native of New Jersey, worked for The Farmhouse Group and at The Great Northern in Burlington.

“We hope to see you all in this new chapter of our lives, and we can't wait to welcome you with open arms,” the pair wrote on social media.

Contact Brent Hallenbeck at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont restaurant that opened last October closes abruptly