Longtime N. Smithfield eatery The Pines closes
NORTH SMITHFIELD – Alongtime local restaurant and banquet hall, The Pines Restaurant & Pub at 1204 Pound Hill Road, has closed after a period of reduced operations, according to local officials.
Town Administrator Gary Ezovski said although he hasn't received official word of the closing from the business, he was aware that The Pines did shut down over the weekend.
“That is what I am told, it has closed completely,” Ezovski said on Monday.
The Pines, which featured a renovated pub to one side of the business and its traditional dinning room and banquet hall, was originally founded in 1965 by the Peloquin family and was the home of many area weddings, anniversaries and special events over the years.
The menu included the local favorite family-style chicken dinner as well as a regular menu of dinners. The restaurant is also true to its name and situated in a grove of white pines off Pound Hill Road.
The business had gone through changes of ownership in recent years and was listed as being acquired by KITA Management, LLC, from The Pines LLC, in February of 2012, in records filed with the Secretary of State's office.
David B. Healey and Ronald R. Constantineau, listed as principals in KITA, LLC, in the transaction at that time, could not be reached for comment about the closing.
The business has not renewed its town operating licenses for victualing and liquor sales, Debra Todd, town clerk, said this week. The business cannot operate without those licenses, Todd said.
The Pines was reported to have stopped operating on a daily basis about a month ago while remaining available for functions and special events.
Last week, however, the restaurant was reported to have notified people with scheduled events that the business was closed.
Word of the shutdown also began to circulate in Facebook postings on The Pines at the same time. Further information on how the closing will affect gift certificates from The Pines was not available on Tuesday.