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Family & Community: A Successful Recipe for Stone’s Countryside Tavern By Colleen Onuffer
Like the mythical phoenix, Stone’s Countryside Tavern on Buffalo Road in Churchville has risen from the ashes - literally. In June of 2020, amidst the global pandemic, a fire broke out in the kitchen of the bar and restaurant. Thinking back to that moment, owner Valerie Chesley said, “We had five separate fire departments here that night. We knew everyone that was here pu�ng out the fire.” Her brother and co-owner, Dan Stone, added, “There was so much light out there, you could see it from space.” The months following the fire was an emo�onal �me for the family. “It was hard to come in here the first couple of months,” said Chesley, no�ng that she grew up at Stone’s. The building was first purchased by Chesley and Stone’s parents over 40 years ago and run as a tavern. In 1985, it transi�oned into a restaurant with the addi�on of the dining room. Truly a family business, Chesley, Stone and their siblings have worked there
6 l My Hometown Oct/Nov 2021
Owners and siblings Valerie Chesley and Dan Stone
throughout the years, as well as aunts, daughters, son in laws, nieces and more. Their dad, now 83 years old, s�ll helps out every day. “People kept stopping in,” said Stone, describing the months a�er the fire when individuals would check in on the family in person and by email. “It helped us amazingly – got us through it.” It took ten months of cleaning, planning and upda�ng to get the restaurant back up and running. Everything in the building Con�nued on pg. 7
