Keeping up with businesses closing, new ones springing up on Church Street in Burlington

Dan D'Ambrosio, Burlington Free Press
Updated ·3 min read

CORRECTION: A lease is being negotiated for a new business to take the place of The Body Shop on Church Street. A previous version of this story incorrectly reported the status of the new lease.

Burlington's Church Street continues to be roiled by change, the latest being that four businesses − The Body Shop, Black Diamond, Slate and El Gato Cantina − are closing.

El Gato owner Tree Sanchez Bertram announced the restaurant's closure on Facebook, calling it a "very hard decision."

"With all the Covid pivots and downtown struggles, we are now pivoting in a new direction," Sanchez Bertram said. "El Gato downtown will now be open as an event space for holiday parties, pop-ups and special events. This location will be on the market for new restaurant ownership."

Sanchez Bertram said she will focus on her Essex restaurant, food truck and events/catering business.

El Gato Cantina on Church Street is closing.
El Gato Cantina on Church Street is closing.

Matchmaking for new Church Street businesses

Kara Alnasrawi, director of business and workforce development for the city of Burlington, was unable Tuesday to confirm the closures of The Body Shop, Black Diamond and Slate, but she was able to confirm a letter of intent has been signed by a new business for the space containing Slate. Real estate broker Yves Bradley of V/T Commercial said a lease is being negotiated for a new business that will take the space containing The Body Shop.

The Burlington Free Press confirmed in an online chat with Black Diamond that it is closing its Church Street store in December, but could get no details beyond that. Alnasrawi said she did not know of a new tenant moving into the Black Diamond space − yet.

A window display at the top of Church Street Marketplace in Burlington announces plans for a Black Diamond store. Photographed Aug. 3, 2021. The store will close in December 2023.
A window display at the top of Church Street Marketplace in Burlington announces plans for a Black Diamond store. Photographed Aug. 3, 2021. The store will close in December 2023.

"Nationals," such as Black Diamond and The Body Shop, are notoriously opaque when it comes to divulging their plans, she added.

"This office works hard to matchmake businesses and entrepreneurs with vacant spaces so they don't stay vacant for long," Alnasrawi said.

More of that matchmaking includes:

  • The former Monelle space has been rented to Vermont Eclectic Co., a Vermont-themed gift shop

  • A new restaurant called Frankie's is coming to the former Penny Cluse space. Alnasrawi said Frankie's is locally owned by two people who worked in another local restaurant.

  • Nomad Coffee, which has a location on Flynn Avenue, will add a second location in the old Red Onion space

  • A new bar will be opening next to Mr. Mikes pizza

  • Always Full Asian Market will open a second location in the former Dobra Tea space, in addition to its South Burlington store

  • A new convenience store will open in the former Perky Planet Coffee location

More: New businesses in Chittenden County include toy store coming soon to downtown Burlington

Pleas to continue patronizing Church Street

Alnasrawi acknowledged there has been a lot of concern expressed about the "safety and security" of Church Street and downtown Burlington, but said she wants people to know locally owned businesses need their continued support.

"I'm down here six days a week and I'm fine," Alnaswari said, adding that "I might see things I didn't used to see."

A new restaurant called Frankie's will be opening in the former Penny Cluse cafe in downtown Burlington.
A new restaurant called Frankie's will be opening in the former Penny Cluse cafe in downtown Burlington.

Hen of the Wood restaurant owner Eric Warnstedt echoed Alnasrawi's sentiments in a Facebook post in which he put his money where his mouth is.

"If you aren't watching it with your own eyes, you're seeing it on the news and on social media," Warnstedt wrote. "Burlington is hurting and local businesses need your support this holiday season, badly! Please consider a holiday stroll down Church Street before shopping online. We must stay engaged, we must participate, to keep our downtown activated with vibrant businesses.

"This is not a plea to dine at HOTW. It is a plea to spend your money on Church Street and in our gorgeous, locally-owned shops of downtown. Bring in receipts of $50 or more from any downtown Burlington stores and we'll give you a 1/2 dozen pristine oysters on us!"

Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosi@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Church Street in downtown Burlington: Businesses closing, opening