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Vermont gas station Indian restaurant announces closure

A popular Indian restaurant in an unusual location for Vermont – a gas station – announced on social media this week that it will close effective July 30.

“Rickie’s Indian Restaurant will be closing Tuesday, July 30th; PERMANENTLY,” the South Barre eatery’s announcement reads. “We appreciate all of you who have helped us grow and become an integral part of the community. It has been a pleasure serving you all.”

Gary and Kelly Singh ran the modest-looking but tasty restaurant in a Citgo station at the intersection of Vermont 14 and 63.

“If you eat at this South Barre spot, chances are your gaze will be drawn to a soda cooler or shelves of chips, or maybe to the rack of postcards by the counter that show off the gorgeous Vermont landscape,” according to a 2021 Burlington Free Press article about restaurants in unexpected locations.

The view wasn’t impressive, but the food drew fans from across the state, more than 50 of whom paid tribute to Rickie’s after the closure was announced. Fans who commented on the restaurant’s Facebook post said they would be saddened by the loss of Rickie’s butter chicken, vegetable korma and mango lassi.

“We are officially retiring!” the restaurant wrote on the Facebook post in response to a patron who asked for more information. “The restaurant is closing permanently because the gas station has been sold to a new owner. Gary and Kelly are retiring.”

Contact Brent Hallenbeck at [email protected].