WINOOSKI, Vt. (WCAX) – McKee’s Bar and Grill, which has been open since the 90′s, is closing its doors.
“It feels like home, it’s like cheers,” Roxanne Smith of Starksboro said.
Roxanne Smith has been coming to McKee’s Pub and Grill for the last 24 years.
She says she always goes to the bar to celebrate her birthday and play some pool. When she heard the pub would be closing, she couldn’t help but visit to say goodbye.
“I am going to miss the local vibe. I am going to miss the convenience. I am going to miss the friendliness of all the people around here. I am going to miss playing pool on my birthday every year,” Smith said.
“It’s one of those places where it’s an everybody knows your name senario. If they don’t, they’re going to ask you what your name is,” Mckee’s co-owner Ryan Johnston said.
Ryan Johnston took over the 36-year-old business about a year and a half ago.
He says it was his dream to own the pub as he remembers it from when he was a little kid.
Over the past couple months, there hasn’t been enough foot traffic in the city to support them, causing them to make the difficult decision to close.
“I mean the construction is definitely the nail in our coffin. Our sales plummeted dramatically. That second week of April when things started. It’s been many things,” Johnston said.
And people that come by often, are sad to see their favorite spot go.
“Disappointing right, it’s been an establishment in the community for many many years right. Where people come down and can be friends. Birthday parties, retirement parties, you know. Neighborhood stuff,” Jeff Brosseau of Winooski said.