Woodshed Closing??

[SumoDog]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

It is certainly possible, but I hope that is not the case. The Common Man Group has become a chain of decent restaurants (I do eat there) that are well run and managed. I would hate to see the Woodshed kitchen work under the direction of a "corporate" executive chef.

I am sad, I live very close to the Woodshed and I eat there once and even twice a week typically. I like Kirk and Paige and think it is a great place.I have not talked with them yet but I also believe the Woodshed will survive mostly intact. They are busy- like everyone else, mid-week off season is tough. But weekends and all summer... slammed. I will be going in tonite and may be able to report more if they want me too.

Alex Ray - Corporate??? - guess you do not know Alex - to my knowledge Common Man Group is owned by Alex and he does not answer to shareholders looking to max profits and returns.

You are correct about the sadness portion - wish present owners all the luck in the world to pull thru and continue to run Woodshed the way Lynn and Bob used to

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by SumoDog

Alex Ray - Corporate??? - guess you do not know Alex - to my knowledge Common Man Group is owned by Alex and he does not answer to shareholders looking to max profits and returns.

You are correct about the sadness portion - wish present owners all the luck in the world to pull thru and continue to run Woodshed the way Lynn and Bob used to

The Common Man group is a corporation that owns numerous restaurants. They do not have an executive chef in each location, they rely on corporate chefs and well trained cooks. It is common when you get chainy- look at Legal Seafoods. It is not necessarily a bad thing, I just would like to see the Woodshed remain an independent restaurant. If I want to go to the Common Man, I can go to Ashland, Concord or one of the other 16 CM locations (and I do on occasion).

[Jonas Pilot]

Well said VB.

[Hermit Cover]

In the case of any restaurant "good food" is the key word. If corporate chefs and care taken to prepare well-trained cooks yields good food....they will come and they will come back. If the food is generally "less than good" and the service is poorly trained and managed any restaurant will fail.

Emeril Lagasse does't cook in every one of his restaurants but his restaurants are highly rated because the service is very well-trained and the food is top quality when it is delivered to the back door and is prepared by chefs and cooks that are trained by the master chef.

The "corporate" in Common Man isn't bad if it yields steady good service and good food. I hope the Woodshed catches on to some sort of success formula in its next life.....

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

The Common Man group is a corporation that owns numerous restaurants. They do not have an executive chef in each location, they rely on corporate chefs and well trained cooks. It is common when you get chainy- look at Legal Seafoods. It is not necessarily a bad thing, I just would like to see the Woodshed remain an independent restaurant. If I want to go to the Common Man, I can go to Ashland, Concord or one of the other 16 CM locations (and I do on occasion).

Legals and the Common Man may be chains but their food, service and consistencey are excellent. The Woodshed, historically a wonderful choice, appears to be struggling with quality and consistency. Given the recent foreclosure activity the picture is starting to come into focus. While I like a unique independent restaurant as much as the next guy, having one of these well run "chains" operate in the Woodshed building would likely be an excellent outcome. In my opinion, it is the unique building and location of the Woodshed that define the dining experience, not whether the restaurant is owned by an individual or a "chain".

[Jonas Pilot]

I think it would make a great McDonalds. When is enough sameness enough?

[Hermit Cover]

I agree Jonas Pilot...these all offer sameness and consistency. I think it would be a shame to let a remote location and great physical plant with lots of ambience go the route of so many others...new ownership and a poorly-capitalized slide into mediocrity. You've been around the restaurants in the Lakes Region long enough obviously to have seen them come and go. It's easy to be ordinary...but hard to stay open.

[BernerGuy]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

Legals and the Common Man may be chains but their food, service and consistencey are excellent. The Woodshed, historically a wonderful choice, appears to be struggling with quality and consistency. Given the recent foreclosure activity the picture is starting to come into focus. While I like a unique independent restaurant as much as the next guy, having one of these well run "chains" operate in the Woodshed building would likely be an excellent outcome. In my opinion, it is the unique building and location of the Woodshed that define the dining experience, not whether the restaurant is owned by an individual or a "chain".

I have to disagree with referring to Common Man restaurants as having food, service, and consistency at the level of excellent. I have found one or two good and the rest okay. I have yet to have a meal at the rte 104 diner that did not come out of the microwave, and service has been good and awful, never excellent. I will keep trying though. I guess microwaving everything would be consistent, but I'm thinking it is not what you meant. I would rather see another O's or Canoe go in there, but I would be happy with a resurgence of the Woodshed as well. If I had the money and a death wish, I'd open a second restaurant up herebut let's leave that to the sadists. Hoping for good news for the Woodshed.

[Mr. V]

Originally Posted by BernerGuy

If I had the money and a death wish, I'd open a second restaurant up herebut let's leave that to the sadists.

I think you meant "masochists."

Sadists run China Garden.