Free Press Staff Report

Burlington Free Press

Magnolia Bistro announced on Facebook Thursday is it shutting down in Burlington, three months after the owner's social media posts about persons with addiction disease prompted criticism.

"Magnolia is closing its doors in Burlington," the post reads. "Many thanks to those that supported us along the way. With out you we would never have made it this far."

A visit to 1 Lawson Lane on Thursday morning showed Magnolia Bistro is no longer operating. The restaurant's sign has been removed from the exterior of the building.

The business opened in 2006.

'I didn't mean what I said'

In June, owner Shannon Reilly posted derogatory comments on Facebook about persons with addiction disease, at a time Mayor Miro Weinberger was promoting making buprenorphine, or Suboxone, available quickly to users of opioids or heroin who needed drug treatment. Seven Days reported.

"The junkies should detox or die," Reilly wrote in one of the posts. The posts generated a social media backlash, and Reilly wound up deleting the posts and apologizing.

"I didn't mean what was said," Reilly said in his apology. Reilly has also been publicly critical of the Burlington Farmers Market, and at City Council meetings expressed his concern that the popular food event in City Hall Park adversely affected his business.

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The Magnolia Bistro post on Thursday made clear the business might renew itself elsewhere.

"We are actively seeking investors to lift us to a new city somewhere between South Burlington and Key West," the post states.

Vermont's first certified green restaurant

Magnolia Bistro was known for its breakfasts, with dishes such as its eggs Benedict on sourdough drawing crowds to the basement space. The restaurant was selected by the Boston-based Green Restaurant Association in 2010 as Vermont's first certified green restaurant.

Reilly told the Burlington Free Press in 2010 that Magnolia worked with about 40 local farmers, many of whom delivered their products to the restaurant to be served the same day.

"A lot of places are doing green stuff," Reilly told the Free Press. "I think we're doing a little more."

Within an hour of Thursday's closing announcement, patrons of the restaurant expressed their sadness. "Before you go, will you post your oatmeal pancake recipe?" asked one.