Yesterday I sent an email blast to about 1000 email addresses announcing the closure of The Red Barn restaurant in Silver City. To some folks, The Red Barn ranks right up there with the Buffalo Bar when you think of iconic places in Silver City. Well, after the email was sent it didn't take long for the responses to begin pouring in. So... let me share with you the extent of my knowledge about what will happen to The Red Barn.
I don't know.
Someone asked me if it were true that The Red Barn was going to be torn down and Denny's was going to build a new restaurant there? I don't know.
Is there a buyer for The Red Barn that will reopen it keeping the name Red Barn? I don't know.
Is the new owner of The Copper Manor going to do something with The Red Barn? From what he told me, he only bought the motel... not the restaurant.
So let me share with you what I do know. Denise Yeilding, the owner of The Red Barn, began selling equipment, chairs, tables, dishes, glasses on Tuesday and is selling more stuff today – Wednesday. She has tried to help some of her Red Barn employees find jobs with other restaurants in the area. Denise still owns and operates the Drifter Motel and the Drifter restaurant. These two businesses are going strong right now. The other thing I know is that it is sad to see a business close that has been cooking for citizens and visitors to Grant County for so many years.
This past Friday, I enjoyed the all-you-can-eat salad bar and soup. I suppose it may have been my last bowl of clam chowder at The Red Barn.
It has been a little cold and icy this week. Shoot... I don't know about you but snow gets me in the Christmas spirit. If you've been bitten by the holiday bug, I want to ask you to do something. I'm going to ask you to shop as much as possible with local businesses in Grant County. There are lots of stores to shop in. There are several car dealerships if you need a new vehicle. There are still plenty of restaurants to get your nourishment for those tedious shopping excursions. It really is important to support local businesses and support the local economy.
When you spend your money locally, supporting local businesses, we usually don't write articles about businesses closing.
Travel safely, don't text and drive, don't spend too much money on your credit cards, and most of all... have a great holiday season in Grant County, New Mexico.
If you would like to be included in the Chamber of Commerce email blasts, call my office and give us your email address. Or you can send me an email asking to be added to the database. My email address is sterry@silvercity.org, and my phone number is 575-538-3785.