Popular Indian restaurant inside Vermont gas station announces its closure
Brent HallenbeckA popular Indian restaurant located in an unusual spot for Vermont – inside a gas station – announced this week on social media that it will be shutting down as of July 30.
“Rickie's Indian Restaurant will be closing Tuesday, July 30th; PERMANENTLY.,” reads the announcement from the South Barre eatery. “We appreciate all of you who have helped us grow and become an integral part of the community. It was a pleasure to serve you all.”
Gary and Kelly Singh operated the humble looking but tasty restaurant inside a Citgo station at the intersection of Vermont 14 and 63.
“If you eat inside this spot in South Barre, your view is most likely to focus on a soda cooler or shelves of potato chips, or maybe the rack of postcards near the counter showing actual pretty Vermont scenery,” according to a 2021 Burlington Free Press article about restaurants in unexpected locations.
The view wasn’t impressive, but the food drew fans from around the state, more than 50 of whom paid tribute to Rickie’s following the announcement of its closure. Devotees commenting on the restaurant’s Facebook post indicated they will mourn the loss of Rickie’s butter chicken, vegetable korma and mango lassi.
“We’re officially retiring!” the restaurant wrote on the Facebook post in response to a visitor asking for more information. “The restaurant will be closing permanently as the gas station was sold to new ownership. Gary and Kelly are retiring.”
Contact Brent Hallenbeck atbhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com.