The Unofficial Sugarloaf Chat

Didn't see that coming! Kind of a shame if it means closing the Eustis location. This could work, although there sure is some overlap with The Bag and The Rack.

Seen on FB Unofficial Sugarloaf

Here's the Facebook post, which says nothing about closing the Eustis location: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10226773917484613&set=gm.1919940035169315&idorvanity=575619329601399

Alpiner wrote:Didn't see that coming! Kind of a shame if it means closing the Eustis location. This could work, although there sure is some overlap with The Bag and The Rack.

Seen on FB Unofficial Sugarloaf

Agree that there's some overlap, but I think they'll do very well. Interesting about their Eustis location. They've invested some dough into making that a very cool summer venue and I think it's petty successful. That would be impossible to duplicate at Sugarloaf. We'll see.

High Ball wrote:

Alpiner wrote:Didn't see that coming! Kind of a shame if it means closing the Eustis location. This could work, although there sure is some overlap with The Bag and The Rack.

Seen on FB Unofficial Sugarloaf

Agree that there's some overlap, but I think they'll do very well. Interesting about their Eustis location. They've invested some dough into making that a very cool summer venue and I think it's petty successful. That would be impossible to duplicate at Sugarloaf. We'll see.

That post is from a member in the FB group, not the company. Nothing from them or the mountain, yet....
https://www.facebook.com/brickyardhollowbrewingco/
https://brickyardhollow.com/

Glade Monkey wrote:That post is from a member in the FB group, not the company. Nothing from them or the mountain, yet....
https://www.facebook.com/brickyardhollowbrewingco/
https://brickyardhollow.com/

Poster Lisa Reider frequently makes posts that appear to be "from" Brickyard, so if she doesn't work there, she must be connected with someone who does.

Brickyard brings a solid food choice to the mountian......there is overlap but one of the keys to being successful is having food that appeals to kids and they do. Wish they made better beer.........its pretty mediocre in a state that brews some of the best beers in the country.

Glade Monkey wrote:That post is from a member in the FB group, not the company.

She is either the owner or manager.

If they can do a good steak dinner and create a cozy inviting atmosphere I think it will take off.

The Brickyards are franchises. She owns the one in Eustis. My understanding with any franchise is that you need to own multiple stores to make a go of it. It probably makes sense for her. Eustis vs SL village are two different markets I'd say. Hopefully it all works out

bigelow wrote:The Brickyards are franchises. She owns the one in Eustis. My understanding with any franchise is that you need to own multiple stores to make a go of it. It probably makes sense for her. Eustis vs SL village are two different markets I'd say. Hopefully it all works out

Did not know they were franchises. That makes sense to me now......the one I frequent on the southern coast has a different menu with no entrees.

Guess I'm just afraid that the SL BH will cannibalize the Eustis BH. I'd think they'd have to make each a compelling alternative to the other. Not sure I see myself wanting to leave the mountain for the same menu and beer and just a change of scenery.

Alpiner wrote:Guess I'm just afraid that the SL BH will cannibalize the Eustis BH. I'd think they'd have to make each a compelling alternative to the other. Not sure I see myself wanting to leave the mountain for the same menu and beer and just a change of scenery.

Not sure it will cannibalize... I must've been there 4-5 times by now (50% off-skiing season, 50% during) and what was clear to me was that the clientele was from Stratton-Eustis. You can easily tell most of them were non-skiers and during summer season that spot by the lake is quite nice.

the marina is key. if they add fuel it bakes in summer success.

Yes on fuel. I shudder to think of the gauntlet they have to navigate to get that going.

She has said the Eustis location will remain. That’s good. Glad it gets lots of non-loaf business.

Great! Not enough places around here to get a mediocre slice! We needed one more!

High Ball wrote:

Alpiner wrote:Didn't see that coming! Kind of a shame if it means closing the Eustis location. This could work, although there sure is some overlap with The Bag and The Rack.

Seen on FB Unofficial Sugarloaf

Agree that there's some overlap, but I think they'll do very well. Interesting about their Eustis location. They've invested some dough into making that a very cool summer venue and I think it's petty successful. That would be impossible to duplicate at Sugarloaf. We'll see.

If the prices are reasonable, the overlap won't matter. Things are a little crazy price-wise in the Village these days.

Brickyard Hollow in Eustis is now closed, they shut down last night

k2trav wrote:Brickyard Hollow in Eustis is now closed, they shut down last night

Wow....that's too bad. I thought they had good food at decent prices and they always seemed to have a pretty good crowd. Not easy running two restaurants nowadays.

High Ball wrote:Wow....that's too bad. I thought they had good food at decent prices and they always seemed to have a pretty good crowd. Not easy running two restaurants nowadays.

Yeah, every time we went it was hopping. Surprised.

Now, everyone go try out BH on the mountain. GREAT pizza.

Sounds like the Eustis location will open back up this summer

SpillwayEast wrote:Sounds like the Eustis location will open back up this summer

Facebook post yesterday indicates the Eustis location is closed for good.

WrathOfAramark wrote:

SpillwayEast wrote:Sounds like the Eustis location will open back up this summer

Facebook post yesterday indicates the Eustis location is closed for good.

See this is why logic is important. The post says closed for the season. Then someone asks if it’s closed for good, and BH responds yes. But since these days there’s no way of knowing if BH actually comprehends what they logically just confirmed, we don’t know what the status is. Argh.

Alpiner wrote:

WrathOfAramark wrote:

SpillwayEast wrote:Sounds like the Eustis location will open back up this summer

Facebook post yesterday indicates the Eustis location is closed for good.

See this is why logic is important. The post says closed for the season. Then someone asks if it’s closed for good, and BH responds yes. But since these days there’s no way of knowing if BH actually comprehends what they logically just confirmed, we don’t know what the status is. Argh.

Mother Nature has not been kind to the area that depends on natural snow. If we were under 3 feet of natural the place would be hoping with sleds.

They better get their act together or it is going to be yet another victim of the curse of Gepetto, and soon. Went for lunch yesterday at noon, they were out of a bunch of stuff, including all IPAs, and all Pizza. Server sang the same song to each table - we're understaffed. 2 people in the kitchen, 2 servers. How do you go from operating two restaurants within a 15 minute drive of each other to one and suddenly you're understaffed? Furthermore, they have not done any decorating other than one BH sign, a few cheap Christmas lights, and two huge TVs. One of which, right next to our table, serenaded us with a music video service, seemingly set on the cheesy 80s channel - Bon Jovi, Metallica, Bryan Adams, Journey, GnR, etc. Appetizing. There is nothing else on the walls. Even moreso than with Mas Amigos and Hunker Down, which were also sparse and uninviting, it feels like dining in the crashed wreckage of Gepetto's. It is time to re-do that space. It's over. Gepetto's is not coming back.

The two other times we've gone the pizza was really good. Probably best in the area. But no pizza yesterday so we got the meatball sub and a cobb salad. Sub was delicious but very big and heavy, salad was good. Good fries.

In other news, Mas Amigos' excellent margarita lives on at The Red Pony.

We always had good meals at BH Eustis, probably went there 4-6 times the past year during fall and winter. Had lunch at Sugarloaf about a month ago and had poor experience, the alcove was FREEZING, and there was a very loud group of 6-8 nearby. The food was mediocre, soup just fair, and waitperson not very accommodating when we mentioned our concerns. I'd give them another try, but my wife is not ready when we have The Bag and D'ellies where we know we'll get a good meal.

I'll add to the chorus. Waited 10 minutes standing at the bar to get a beer with essentially 1 bartender serving both the bar and service drinks before leaving unsuccessful. Understaffed maybe but multiple people walking in and out from behind the bar without serving anyone.

I put this on Sugarloaf not the establishments that are trying to make it a go. Help someone to actually remodel the place with a longer term rental incentive.

It's a joke. Many food options at Sugarloaf are no longer "charming and dated." They are closer to health violations.

WrathOfAramark wrote:

SpillwayEast wrote:Sounds like the Eustis location will open back up this summer

Facebook post yesterday indicates the Eustis location is closed for good.

I asked if the closing in Eustis was seasonal or permanent. The response I got was the long term details of the Eustis site are still being worked out.

So... who knows.

TheHangingJudge wrote:I'll add to the chorus. Waited 10 minutes standing at the bar to get a beer with essentially 1 bartender serving both the bar and service drinks before leaving unsuccessful. Understaffed maybe but multiple people walking in and out from behind the bar without serving anyone.

Unfortunately this common no matter where you go........a bartender or wait staff will look at you while you have an empty drink and walk away to do something else that doesn't produce revenue. Alcohol is #1 profit item for these places......if the food is slow at least make sure the drinks are coming.

TheHangingJudge wrote:I'll add to the chorus. Waited 10 minutes standing at the bar to get a beer with essentially 1 bartender serving both the bar and service drinks before leaving unsuccessful. Understaffed maybe but multiple people walking in and out from behind the bar without serving anyone.

I put this on Sugarloaf not the establishments that are trying to make it a go. Help someone to actually remodel the place with a longer term rental incentive.

Are those two separate thoughts? Because I don't think poor service by individuals at a non-Sugarloaf business can be blamed on Sugarloaf. Yes, Sugarloaf should help to remodel that space, they make money off it, as they get a cut of the tenant's revenue in addition to rent. Nobody is going to resurrect the magic of Gepetto's, so it is time to gut it. But in the meantime, BH could take a look at The Rack and The Bag and see all the fun decorations and maybe get a clue of what successful Sugarloaf restaurants are doing.

It's a joke. Many food options at Sugarloaf are no longer "charming and dated." They are closer to health violations.

I'd say just BH fits that description since minimal effort has been made in the charm department. But the situation is a joke. Remember when getting a table at Gepetto's took half an hour or more and often you were lucky to get a spot at the side bar? Remember when the side bar was an excellent sushi joint? Remember when it was a great ramen joint? Remember when Gepetto's Ghetto was overflowing with kids while their parents spent money upstairs? This can be done again.

Alpiner wrote:Are those two separate thoughts? .

Yep Sorry!
BH should do better with service.

And separately

Sugarloaf should help with remodeling costs (directly or with rent incentives) and lock the business in to multiple seasons. Win for both

At some point, do home owners spending millions want better options?

I am done with these idiots.

I went to the Eustis one quite a few times during summer and their pizza was pretty good. Yesterday, I tried the SL one. I wasn't even inside and can assure you this place will close before long. Firstly, not one dime was spent to make that place look better. Second, a sign at the entrance said "Sorry, no pizza tonight". You can't make this stuff up. Seriously, no pizza on a pizza place on Saturday night of vacation week? We somehow decided to risk it and ordered burgers etc. A solid 45 minutes later, we asked our server where was the food, a good 10 minutes later, we were told another 15-20 minutes and the food will be ready. At this point, our party of 6 simply GTFO. I will ensure that this place gets the reputation it deserves.