Tavern on the Hill hoping to reopen this month after devastating August fire

EASTHAMPTON, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - A popular restaurant in Easthampton is now getting ready to reopen for the first time in months after a fire forced the spot to close.

“It’s taken a lot longer than we actually anticipated. At first, we were like ‘Oh, in a couple weeks, we’ll be up and running.’ No, it’s been four months,” said Amy Guyette, co-owner of Tavern on the Hill.

It’s a reopening that’s been months in the making for Guyette. She and her staff at Tavern on the Hill are getting ready to reopen their doors later this month after the fire broke out on the restaurant’s deck back in August.

The fire marshal told Guyette the fire started underneath their large smokestack and a spark must have landed on the deck. It caused significant damages to the restaurant interior and its deck, which forced Guyette and her husband to close their doors for the past four months. Now, with all the repairs nearly complete, Guyette is eager to welcome customers and her staff back into the restaurant

“We miss them. We don’t seem them, you know. When you work with somebody, you become like a family and we’re kind of hoping it will be like a big family reunion when we reopen,” Guyette explained.

She told us while the repairs have taken longer than expected, she has been fortunate enough to continue paying her staff during this time and is excited to show the community all the renovations and the road ahead looks hopeful for Tavern on the Hill.

“It feels like it’s been a long three years, with COVID and then we were getting out of that and then the fire, but fire breathes new birth and that’s what we are hoping for,” Guyette added.

She told us she is excited for guests to come back and see all the renovations firsthand. As for an exact date, Guyette told us she is hopeful it will be sometime around December 14, but we will keep you updated when the restaurant announces an official reopening date.

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