A New Chapter For

A Landmark Inn

By Steve Bigham

The former Mary Hawley Inn will re-open its doors for business late next week. Now under new ownership, the historic Main Street restaurant will now be called “The Inn at Newtown.”

The inn closed for just over a week as it prepared to re-open. New owner Rob Ryder, operating under the name DWR Company III, LLC, purchased the 25,000-square-foot building property from Hawley Inn, LLC October 22 for $1,050,000. There was no mortgage.

Mr Ryder and general manager Rich Murdy were spotted outside the inn Wednesday removing the old Mary Hawley Inn signs. The new establishment promises to offer more of what Newtown residents are looking for in a restaurant. The new owner says he will maintain the building’s historical features. He has brought in a new management team which includes Mr Murdy, a longtime Newtown resident, banquet manager Anne Lohan, and Paul Olson, an executive chef, who also resides in Newtown.

“I’ve been doing this all my life. I’m really excited to be in Newtown. I plan to bring some fresh food and some fresh ideas to a great town,” he said earlier this month.

In addition to the more upscale menu in the main dining room, the restaurant will also feature a pub menu as a separate entity, which will offer “more comfortable food.” The inn has opened for parties in the past in an effort to honor anything that had previously been booked under Tom Belli, the restaurant’s former owner.

The new owner also owns two other area restaurants in the area — the Lakehouse in Brookfield and the Cookhouse in New Milford.

The Hawley Manor, formerly owned by the Vazzano family, closed its doors for good in 1994. The restaurant and adjoining inn sat closed for more than three years until being purchased by partners Philip Manger and Richard Mullen in 1996. Mr Belli was considered a silent partner at the time.