My name is Mary Jane Abbate and I am the owner and primary
Chef of the Inn at Glimmerstone Mansion on Route 131 in Cavendish,
Vermont. I purchased this national
historic property on October 21, 2010 and began a historic restoration that has
truly been a labor of love. The Inn
opened for overnight accommodations in January of 2012 and our pub opened to
the public on May 25 of that same year.
Our casual fine dining restaurant opened shortly after in September,
2012. It has been a long journey and I
have met so many wonderful people from all around the world and so many more
that live just up the road in the surrounding towns who have come in for dining
and music. It is with great sadness that
I announce the closing of Glimmerstone Mansion.
Starting a business along with restoring a 169 year old
property by myself has been wonderful but a very difficult thing to accomplish;
after all, I am not located in the hub of the Okemo Resort and the town of
Ludlow. My buildings are over 8,000 square feet and have offered a variety of 4
dining areas (a comfortable English Style pub, a casual dining room, our
outdoor garden patio or in our newly restored barn) making for some steep
overhead expenses. Although I have
tried to keep my prices, quality and quantity of each plate moderate and within
the average for our area, it has been difficult to sustain the expenses to
maintain this property functioning as a business. Newly unanticipated costs looming because I
offer live music, insurance premiums and difficulty finding staff for our
growth (and we were growing indeed) are a challenge that make it near impossible
to continue to grow to have a thriving business. Both of my daughters have been
working at Glimmerstone and together with the staff that we have trained and seasoned,
we have made it work thus far but I continue to be a perfect model of the
difficulties one suffers when trying to open a small business in this difficult
economy.
Glimmerstone will officially close to the public for dining after
our last dinner service on Saturday, March 8, 2014. We will be open on Friday and Saturday
evenings from 4:30-9pm with our pub remaining open until 11 pm and we will offer
live music each Saturday night until this final date. I will see out all of my booked overnight
reservations and plan to refund all of those individuals who have not used gift
certificates purchased or received.
Glimmerstone will become my permanent residence and I will
be placing a temporary sign out in front of the yard to identify this change so
that the general public will have knowledge.
I thank each and every person who helped contribute toward the short
success that the Inn at Glimmerstone Mansion has had and hope that for the time
that we were open to the public that this beautiful historic property was
enjoyed by all.
I thank you all for your understanding.
4 comments:
Very sad to hear this news, MJ, but knowing you as I do, I'm sure you will persevere through this difficulty and move ahead to your next challenge. Wishing you the best for the future . . . Bruce
Mary Jane, we are so sorry to hear that you have closed the inn. Staying there in 2013 was truly one of the nicest times, my wife and I have ever had. Dave & Melinda Battistelli. Our email is reelusin@verizon.net. We would like to hear from you if you have the time. itypeud
So Sorry Mary Jane….Steve & I truly enjoyed our stay there last fall -- from the apps on the patio, into the hot tub -- the dinner!!! -- the piano -- the fire pit! A true joy, oh, and that magnificent breakfast and the intriguing conversation! Best to you! Nancy & Steve in MA
Just wanted to say was there last summer and again over the winter and was just fabulous. Enjoy your beautiful house!
Post a Comment