The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Backstage restaurant closes
TORRINGTON — The Backstage restaurant, a prominent feature on Main Street for almost a decade, closed at the end of the day Sunday.
Representatives of the restaurant announced the decision on Facebook on Saturday evening, much to the dismay of some local residents.
Albert Corpus said he began to go to Backstage the day it opened, after he used to patronize its predecessor, the Cambridge Brew Pub. He was a regular — he estimated he went there once a week — and the staff became close to him, he said.
“I think it’s sad,” Corpus said. “It’s a big part of Torrington that’s going to be missing.”
Corpus said he saw signs that business was not as good as it used to be at the restaurant. The reconstruction of sidewalks on Main Street had slowed traffic a few years ago, dealing the owners a blow, and fewer customers were coming in recent days.
But he said he was surprised the development happened so quickly. He was there Saturday, he said — staff were informed of the decision at 4 p.m., and he came in at 5 p.m.
“Everybody there was just in shock,” said Corpus, noting he was saddened that staffers would be laid off.
Winsted resident Cory Medlar said he and his wife, Krista, had begun to go to Backstage more than four years ago. It became where they went for a night out on the town, he said. When Krista’s father would fly into town from Michigan to visit, they would go there and sit in the same booth, over by the bar.
During the holidays, they
enjoyed the decorations and seasonal offerings.
“My wife and I are greatly saddened by them closing so unexpectedly, and now we are at a loss to find a new regular spot for (our) date nights out,” Medlar said. “(We’re) totally caught off guard especially since they always were so busy and the food and wait staff were always great.”
Medlar said he and his wife would eat there one more time Sunday, and he would try to get the recipe for their meatloaf dinner — the best he has ever had.
Sheila M. Hogan, a Torrington resident for 70 years, said she was sorry to see the restaurant, which she described as “a vital part of downtown Torrington,” close its doors.
“It was always an enjoyable restaurant — food wise, service wise and Torringtonian wise,” Hogan said. “A great place to connect and meet up with friends and (acquaintances). I think it is going to be sorely missed by many.”
Corpus, Medlar and Hogan all said they’d like to see another restaurant take Backstage’s place. Corpus suggested the space be split in two, cutting the cost of overhead for the next owner, who he would prefer be something unique instead of a chain.
In the meantime, he will miss the people he got to know there, he said.
“Family — they were family to me,” said Corpus. “I feel like I’m losing family.”
The building housing Backstage is owned by the Northwest Connecticut Association for the Arts, as is the neighboring Warner Theater.
Lynn Gelormino, listed as executive director of the group in its 2015 990 filing and the executive director of the Warner, traced the closure of the restaurant to unsuccessful negotiations over a new lease in a statement Sunday afternoon.
“After several months of negotiation over lease terms and obligations, unfortunately the parties were unable to reach a resolution. We regret Backstage has decided to close,” Gelormino said. “The Warner has commenced activities to seek a replacement. Over the years, Backstage has been a great dining option for our patrons, and it is our intention to build on that experience.”
Owner Keith Mahler, also the owner of Waterbury-based Premier Concerts, did not immediately return a request for comment Sunday.
“We are proud of the restaurant that we created, our commitment to local sourcing and fresh made menu items, Connecticut’s best craft beer selection, high standards of cleanliness and food safety, and our generosity to many, many local charities,” said representatives of the restaurant on Facebook in announcing its closure. “Mostly, we are proud to have worked with the 42 professionals who made their livings here at Backstage. While closing a business is never pleasant and brings its own set of challenges, our major concern at this time is for these great people.”
Both the Northwest Connecticut Association for the Arts and Backstage Torrington LLC owe property taxes on the space, according to city records. These bills do not become delinquent until Feb. 1.
Mayor Elinor Carbone said the loss of a Main Street business “creates a hole in the heart of the city,” and advocated for Torrington residents to support local commercial enterprises.
“These businesses are relying on our community to spend our time and our money supporting them. The space that is occupied by Backstage is extraordinary and historic and I have every confidence that it will be turned around very quickly,” said Carbone in a statement. “I just want to remind our citizens that any failure of a business is as much our failure if we are not doing what we can to support them.”
People reacting to the closure on Facebook shared concerns about gift cards Sunday.
Bob DeZinno, director of operations with the restaurant, said late Sunday that those with gift cards in their possession can email managers@backstageeatdrinklive.com to receive instructions on how to get a refund. He did not immediately respond to follow up questions about the restaurant’s closure.