The owners of The Common Man Restaurant in Warren will not be reopening the restaurant for the summer and fall seasons, they informed customers this week.
The chef-owned and -operated restaurant has been under the management of owners Lorien Wroten and Adam Longworth for the past five years. The partners have decided to close for the summer season in order to find time to explore future professional opportunities. The building and business continue to be available for sale.
Currently, Wroten and Longworth plan to reopen for one more winter season next December.
“It is with both heavy hearts and excitement we are writing to you to announce that we will not be reopening The Common Man for the summer and fall seasons. The past five years of owning and operating The Common Man have been an amazing experience and we have learned countless lessons. We are proud of all we have accomplished within the space and cherish the relationships built with all of you and many others,” Wroten and Longworth wrote in a letter to customers, friends and supporters.
“When we first dreamed of leaving our city life behind and moving to Vermont, the intention was for the two of us to create something from scratch. We wanted something small and very different from anything else we had ever done. The Common Man has been a great first project for us; however, it is definitely not small nor very different than what we have done before. We have made a choice to take time this summer to revisit that original dream and explore future professional opportunities,” they wrote.
Both came to Vermont from NYC where they had prominent careers in the world of cuisine.
“This winter more than ever we have felt the impact of your support and enthusiasm. There are no words to express the gratitude we have for each of you and for our wonderful team. Thank you so much for your appreciation and excitement for the very special type of dining experience that we work so hard to provide. While we stand by our choice and are excited about our future, the obvious and regrettable consequence will be missing the opportunity to have you dine with us this summer and fall. Thank you for your support and understanding. It is because of you that the Mad River Valley has become our home and The Common Man our family,” they wrote.
The Common Man will continue with regular Thursday through Saturday dining through Saturday, March 26, and will be serving a holiday buffet on Easter Sunday, March 28. The Common Man will host one final “End of Season” Send-Off Dinner on Saturday, April 2.
