2021 plans and a sincere thank you
It would be an understatement to say 2020 was a challenging year. But thanks to your support, we made it through the year. We are so grateful to everyone who ordered takeout, bought from the Market, dined with us, and stocked up on gift certificates — even while we were closed in the spring.
The Market has allowed us to keep a small, core team fully employed and mitigated our losses. We are looking forward to expanding the reach of our Market dips and puddings to a handful of retail partners early next year. We recently added wine racks that allow us to greatly expand our wine and spirits selection and we will be launching a Wine of the Month club in March.
But first, we are going to take a couple weeks off. Our kitchen and bar team has been doing double duty since June without a break, so we are all going to catch our breath and reflect on a remarkable year. Both Lark and Lark Market will be closed Jan. 3-20. We are reopening both on Thursday, Jan. 21.
A focus on sandwiches
When Lark reopens in late January, we are making some temporary changes to the menu. January through March is typically a slow time for restaurants. Combined with people’s concerns about dining in restaurants during the pandemic, we believe it will be difficult for us to maintain Lark’s menu without considerable food waste and financial loss. So, we will be temporarily switching our menu to a Sandwich Bar focus. Gourmet sandwiches will be more takeout friendly than our regular menu. Lark will be open for in-person dining as well as takeout, so you can enjoy that delicious sandwich with one of Lia’s amazing cocktails if you want to get out of the house.
The focus on sandwiches will also enable us to refine the menu, train new staff, and be ready to open Sandwich Bar at 54 S. Main Street in April. At that point, Lark will return to its regular menu of seasonal cuisine and, hopefully, not too long after that we can start pulling out the outdoor seating as the weather warms. And, fingers crossed, the virus spread will be more under control by then and we can start to relax just a little.
When Sandwich Bar opens in its permanent home in April, it will also be open for lunch.
We have some other fun plans for the Market, Lark, and Sandwich Bar for 2021 — all contingent, of course, on the course of the pandemic. But we’re looking forward to catering gatherings, starting up event dinners again, wine and cheese tastings, and other events starting mid-year in 2021.
We also plan to start up construction on the second floor of Lark again next year. Because of the uncertainty of that schedule, we aren’t booking any events in that space until spring 2022. If you are interested in renting the space for an event in 2022, please let us know.
Thank you for sticking it out with us through a crazy time. Stay healthy and here's to a hopeful New Year.
Richard and Joan