When The Skinny Pancake first came on the scene in 2003 as a cart on The Church Street Marketplace, Nectar’s was already an institution—a towering presence in Burlington, the pillar of the music scene. Damon Brink and Chris Walsh had just bought the business from the original owner, Nectar Rorris. They had undertaken a massive renovation of the space. What had felt like a local honky tonk with its long, narrow platform for performers was transformed into a serious stage, a stylish bar, and a substantial dance floor. Gravy Fries were still reliably served right out the window onto the Main Street sidewalk.

A few years later, in 2006, our modest cart operation hit a snag: we needed a kitchen asap. Nectar’s came to our rescue, sharing their kitchen with us that summer, setting a tone that we now know to be the genetic code of the Burlington business community: pay it forward and help the other fellow. 

For The Skinny Pancake, this was the iconic pre-restaurant year of operations. Our cart got pushed on and off the street. We didn’t need to tow it. Our food was stored within walking distance in a proper walk-in refrigerator. We used our first commercial mixer to make batter–the classic 20-quart Hobart A200 while a sound engineer one wall away used a different kind of mixer for the equally classic Wurlitzer 200A keyboard that graced the stage each week as part of the OG Grateful Dead residency at Nectar’s: Blues For Breakfast.

Every night that summer of 2006, we would put the cart away through the back alleyway of Nectar’s, pack in our dishes and food, and walk through the swinging doors of  the kitchen into whatever inspiring music scene played out that night. No covers for us that summer, thanks to the arrangement we had. The bartenders knew us and took care of us. Damon was kind enough to coach us a bit on the hard knocks of the food and music business. We operated under the golden halo of that hallowed hall of the local music scene that summer as a nephew to the Nectar’s family, and it felt great.

Fast forward nearly 20 years, and this once giant on the local music scene is apparently more than “pushing pause.” Nectar’s has announced it has closed permanently. The memories and accolades for the venue are spilling out on social media from the thousands of people who graced the stage, worked behind the bar, and enjoyed a show there. Meanwhile, trolls use the closure of Nectar’s as further fodder to pillory our beloved Burlington.

We are beyond proud that Burlington is where The Skinny Pancake got its start. The passion for music that courses through the cultural veins of Burlington brought us along for the ride. That genetic code of caring for each other in the business community sustains. From The Skinny Pancake’s nascence in the early aughts into our growth during peak years for Burlington in the swinging teens, through COVID  and now onto this surprising recent decline in our dear city: what a long, strange trip it’s been.

A change is coming…again. We’re seeing local businesses clap back at the cultural decline. Shout out to The Cafe Hot for their call to action to save Festival Of Fools this summer. Props to Radio Bean for their unwavering commitment to keeping the live music vigil burning bright. Cheers to Foam Brewers for their emergence as a major venue in town. Culture is being made and played here just as it always has been.

We have thrown our hat back in the ring, too: this July 4th, The Skinny Pancake launched a major music series for the first time since COVID. Every Friday evening, a different Grateful Dead cover band performs on our Lake Street patio for free thanks to sponsors that are part of that clap back: Burlington Beer Company, Zero Gravity Craft Brewery, Fiddlehead Brewing Co., Shacksbury Cider, Winooski Organics, Union Bank, and Main Street Landing. All of these organizations stepped up to support the local music scene by keeping “Dancin’ In The Streets” free for y’all. So if you love the music of Burlington, go buy what they sell. Support them. They’re supporting us.

This August 9th marked 30 years to the day since Jerry Garcia passed away. It has been great to see  a new band playing their take on this now classic Americana songbook that is the Grateful Dead catalogue of music each week. Come on out and have a listen on Fridays!

As for Nectar’s: I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this iconic brand. The light will keep burning one way or another. In the meantime, if you love Burlington, visit our beautiful city. And support live music, wherever you are. 

-Benjy