According to owner David Cooper and former management consultant Philip Maniatty, the closing of Cloud 9 at the high profile intersection of Main Street and Church Hill Road occurred for myriad reasons — but in the end, it was basically a business decision.

But Mr Cooper told The Newtown Bee November 19 that he is hopeful a new eatery will open at the site soon, as he is currently in negotiations with a potential new owner. In the meantime, the independent bakery outlet he opened in the rear of the building will continue to operate.

“Obviously, I want to thank the community and our loyal customers for their patronage over the last three-and-a-half-plus years. We couldn’t have been successful as Dere Street without them,” Mr Cooper said.

In that time, Mr Cooper said he and his staff not only served dining and bar patrons from all across Connecticut and southeastern New York, but the restaurant was a “very special place” for Newtown customers who came for intimate milestone celebrations.

“Dere Street was a very special place for birthdays, retirement parties, and other events like that,” he said.

Mr Maniatty said one of the challenges he saw as the business added several new menu offerings and changed its name from Dere Street, to Dere Street Steak, and most recently to Cloud 9, related to an outdoor patio area that was anticipated to be enclosed last summer as an interior redesign was happening.

With that patio renovation now anticipated to happen next spring, the former manager said he saw a retraction of available seating — as the weather grew colder — affecting the restaurant’s ability to accommodate the many reservations coming in because patio seating that previously handled any overflow was already closed for the season.

Mr Cooper also said he expects that outdoor patio area to be closed in by next spring, creating a year-round opportunity to almost double the capacity from what is available in the main dining room.

“That would not only increase and maintain maximum seating capacity, but would allow hosting small private parties,” he said.

Mr Cooper said he is currently in talks with a “very motivated party,” and hopes there will be a formal announcement about new ownership and future plans soon.

He said turning over the restaurant business to a new owner will free him up to concentrate on his own full-time business.

Mr Cooper said the separate small retail bakery shop off the parking lot behind the restaurant will remain open on Saturdays, 8 am to 5 pm, and Sundays, 8 am to 3 pm.