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Creek House Diner
It may have been the worst possible day to have a grand opening, but it turned out very well indeed for Bethel’s new dining establishment, the Creek House Diner. It was Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, with most people immobilized by a big snowstorm, yet about 90 people showed up to give the new enterprise a rousing sendoff. Located south of Bethel village on Route 107 (River Street) where it intersects Route 12 to Barnard, the Creek House is at the same location as Wilson’s Diner, which closed in early 2005. It had been in operation since the 1950s but was forced to close because state testing had detected a fluctuating nitrate content that at times exceeded permissible state limits. In early 2006, Doug and Ginger Boardman of Randolph bought the establishment and gave it its new name, which is really not new, since it was called Creek House Diner over half a century ago, before it was Wilson’s. Doug, a native of South Royalton and long-time employee of Vermont Castings, shared in the financing but is the silent partner in the venture. Ginger, a native of Pomfret, actually operates the diner. She studied business at Castleton State College and first met Doug in the 1980s when she also worked at Vermont Castings. Upon acquiring the diner, Ginger worked for about 10 months to get it ready for the public. The nitrate problem was totally solved by extending the well casing downward to shield the water from occasional surface contaminants. To ensure a more ample water supply, the well was deepened from about 130 feet to a drilled depth of 455 feet. Ginger made other changes as well. Since the Creek House Diner is technically a new establishment, Boardman had to comply with a number of code requirements that would have been grandfathered under the previous ownership, such as the installation of additional sinks in the kitchen and the use of fire retardant paints outside. Patrons will also notice a bright décor inside and lots of plants, as well as booths and partitions for greater privacy. At one time or other in her life, Ginger worked in all phases of restaurant operations, except for cooking itself. "For that I turn to our master chef Salvatore Conti," she said. Conti, who lives in Barnard, has had years of experience in the restaurant business, and also worked as a private chef. He once had his own establishment, Salvatore’s Italian Restaurant in Woodstock. The fare at the Creek House Diner includes all kinds of breakfast combinations, varieties of burgers, meat and seafood dishes, soups and chowders, sandwiches, pastas, desserts and fresh pastries. The diner is open Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 6 a.m.-8 p.m., and is closed Monday. Ginger is full of optimism about the diner’s future, noting, "Like good wine, we expect to get better and better over time." ____________ |
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