The spot where the Ottauquechee Yacht Club (OYC) sits is historic. Once
home to Spooners Dairy Barn and then Spooners Restaurant for 40 years,
the space holds a lot of memories for those who visit. Jona Tuck and
John Knight, a couple that possess impressive restaurant industry
backgrounds acquired both in New York City and Vermont, opened the club
in October 2023. The duo runs the day to day of the establishment, and
Kurt Lessard of the Worthy Group is an equal partner in the venture.
Kurt was a natural choice for collaboration since both Jona and John had
worked with him at the Worthy Kitchen. However, the Ottauquechee Yacht
Club is not part of the Worthy Group and is, in fact, a separate entity.
The name, Ottauquechee Yacht Club, was devised by John. The bar sits
next to the Ottauquechee River and the yacht club addition “is a nod to
the many bars and social clubs, especially on the east coast, that use
‘yacht club’ in their name but are actually just social clubs or
old-fashioned drinking bars,” John explains. When one walks into the
space, it’s hard to deny the nautical touches, but John notes that they
tried not to do too much with the theme. Despite this, customers have
really embraced it, even going so far as to bring them burgees, the
identifying flags of a true yacht club.
Focusing on Customers
Although the restaurant has only been open a short time, it has quickly
become a popular spot for locals and tourists alike to drop in for a
post-work snack, to watch a weekend game, or to spend time in the game
room with friends. There aren’t any servers at Ottauquechee, so patrons
can seat themselves either at the bar or in one of the other rooms, one
of which houses their indoor food truck, Sharky’s. At the bar, patrons
have the full attention of the bartender who, since they aren’t running
back and forth to the kitchen to tend to food orders, have the
opportunity to focus on customers. One special note about the bar in
particular is that bartender Erin Bell actually built the bar herself.
Erin runs Curiosity Woodworks, where she has created a number of bars
for local businesses as well as custom woodwork projects.
On the Perfect Path
John and Jona met while living in Brooklyn. Jona most notably worked at
the Blind Tiger in the West Village and as it happens, one of the owners
of the Blind Tiger is also a partner in the Worthy Group. Jona says,
“When John and I married and moved to Vermont, I was able to help them
open the Worthy Kitchen and worked there happily for eight years. Then
we left to help care for some family members in my hometown of Atlanta.
When we returned to Vermont, we began working at the Woodstock Inn &
Resort for a couple years and Saskadena Six bar.”
John has an impressive hospitality background as well. After attending
UVM, he owned a cafe in Burlington then moved to St. John in the Virgin
Islands, where he worked as a chef for several years. He returned to
Burlington in 1996 where he bartended and managed several well-known
establishments. In 2002, he moved to New York City, where he was
employed by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson and worked at his flagship
Michelin-star restaurant AQUAVIT for 10 years as bar manager and
beverage manager. In 2012, John explains, “I received another lucky
opportunity, which involved moving back to Vermont and opening the
Worthy Burger in South Royalton.” The relationships the couple developed
both at the Worthy Group and in the wider community put them on a
perfect path to open their own venture.
Jona and John, having lived in Woodstock for 10 years, had the
opportunity to watch as the restaurant space where OYC now lives
evolved. When they left Vermont briefly for Atlanta and returned, they
knew once the height of the COVID pandemic passed, that the timing to
make an offer would be just right.
Jona explains that the couple’s excitement about the space had a lot to
do with its history as the old Spooners Restaurant. Spooners was well
established in the space for decades where it became a true social hub
for the community. Now, 35 years later, Jona and John are working to
create a similar gathering spot.
The Space
The restaurant is a good-sized space and given that reservations aren’t
needed, it lends itself to being an impromptu meeting place for
everything from business meetings to reunions. There’s a game room that
includes board games, cards, cribbage, and darts. In the warmer weather,
horseshoes or bocce may be possibilities. The back porch is an ideal
spot to enjoy year-round since it overlooks snowy fields in winter,
foliage in the fall, and conveniently is close enough to the East End
Park walking trails that a break for a jaunt is not out of the question.
The Bar
Bartender Kirstin Davis serves up some fun.
The focus of OYC for the couple was to open a big, casual bar where
people didn’t need reservations. With 18 seats, the spacious bar allows
for ample space while catching the latest sporting event on one of the
bar’s TVs or simply enjoying time with friends. This bar has something
for everyone, from wines to top-shelf martinis to draft and bottled
beer. For alcohol-free options, the restaurant offers Culture Pop
probiotic soda, beverages from Upstate Elevator Company, nonalcoholic
wine and beer, and a new turmeric ginger vinegar tonic.
John says, “All of our bartenders are experienced and are happy to get
you a Budweiser or make you a martini. We have some great house
cocktails as well as our own house ale brewed for us by Upper Pass in
Tunbridge.”
The Food
Happy Harry at Sharky's Indoor Food Truck.
Sharky’s is an indoor space that is set up as a food truck. Jona
explains, “It’s counter service and keeps with the casual style we are
going for.” With easy comfort foods like chili and nachos to meatball
subs and tacos, there’s something at Sharky’s that’s sure to satisfy.
The menu often features items from Black River, North Country
Smokehouse, and Vermont Tortilla Company stone-ground tortillas. “I
think of it as a collaborative kitchen,” Jona says. “We wanted
quick-and-easy bar food. We also have Grab and Go where you can make a
quick stop and pick up our house-made soups, dips, meatballs, and more
and take them home with you to enjoy, bring to a party, or snack on at
the bar.”
Events
The Yacht Club dipped its toe into events this winter with crafty
Sundays leading up to Christmas. Employee Becky Rodgers had the idea to
buy supplies for ornament making and place them in a basket by the
window, inviting customers to get creative at the bar. The activity was
both unexpected and well received. Now those ornaments have been boxed
up and in true community-building fashion will reappear on a tree next
year so people can come back to see their works of art proudly
displayed.
In addition to the craft nights, in early 2024, the restaurant held its
first two live music events. Given their popularity, more musicians have
been booked and patrons can check the full lineup of upcoming shows and
events on the OYCVT website.
In only the short time since opening, Jona and John have felt very
supported by the community and they truly hope everyone feels welcome at
OYC. Jona urges, “Come in, sit wherever you’d like, order your drinks
at the bar, order your food at the window, and have fun!”
Ottauquechee Yacht Club
21710 Maxham Meadow Way
Woodstock, VT
oycvt.com
