SIMSBURY, CT — An esteemed member of Simsbury's dining scene has had an eventful start to the new year, with prior owners announcing their retirement.
But any sad news regarding the Old Well Tavern at 20 Tariffville Road (Route 315) in Simsbury was short-lived, as the prior owners begat new ones with a reopening expected later this week.
Prior owners — Frank Cardoso and Erika Lange — opened the tavern in 2008 and, on Dec. 30, 2024, they announced their retirement from the restaurant/bar business.
"This is a difficult post to make. Frank and I have decided to retire from the bar business," wrote Lange in a Facebook post.
"The challenges of running a business and trying to have some semblance of a normal life were definitely felt throughout those years. We have seen our children grow up in this business and our customers' children as well."
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But that same day, it was announced that new owners would be taking over the beloved eatery.
According to CT Insider, those owners are Shawn Skehan, Scott and Jenna Ziskin, and Scott and Natalie DuBois, a group of longtime customers and supporters of the establishment who wanted it to stay open.
Originally, the bar planned a Jan. 10 reopening, but those plans have been delayed as the new owners have had to navigate the pitfalls of remodeling, which never seem to go as planned.
While no firm date has been announced, the "new" Old Well Tavern owners say they will post the reopening information soon.
For now, locals can relish knowing their favorite place, likely, will be open in time for a certain big football game set to take place next month.
" It will be the same Old Well Tavern but with some exciting new twists," wrote the new owners on social media. "We can't wait to welcome everyone back."
Members of the public seem excited, with most expressing well wishes for the new owners and gratitude toward the former ones.
Meanwhile, the current ownership offered an update on things Sunday morning.
"Wanted to share some more of the progress we have made lately. Bar is being updated, new TVs are going up this weekend and some more new lighting," wrote the ownership Sunday morning.
"Sadly we may need to push our opening out just a bit more towards the end of the week to make sure everything is done and ready."
For the full CT Insider report, click on this link.
For more information on the Old Well Tavern and reopening updates, click on this link.