The Bearsville complex, formerly owned by John Kirkpatrick of Bearsville Associates, was sold to Lizzie Vann, of Willow, NY on Friday August 31.  

The complex, which comprises going-concerns Radio Woodstock (in the Utopia building), and the stand-alone Little Bear Chinese Restaurant, also includes the empty Bear restaurant, the inactive Bearsville Theatre, the Peterson House, two further residences and a barn.  These are located between 277 and 297 Tinker Street in Bearsville. 

Much of the compound has been empty since the winter, when Mr Kirkpatrick closed down the Bear, the Commune Saloon, and the Bearsville Theatre. 

Lizzie Vann commented “This golden nugget, which has been such an important part of Woodstock’s history, will be well taken care of.   As a long-term investor, and a child of the sixties, I have a great affection for the history of Woodstock and of the special contribution that Bearsville has made to it. 

My intention is to immediately re-ignite the energy here by turning the lights back on and bringing people back to the place.  I aim to re-open the Bear Restaurant and Bearsville Theatre as soon as is practically possible.  We will be cleaning up and renovating, but there will be no big changes to the use of any of the buildings. I am so pleased that Radio Woodstock and the Little Bear will remain. We will be working closely together to reach out to our local community and start to build Bearsville back up to the jewel it has been for our town.”

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