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MANCHESTER — Bistro on Main, a local restaurant that provided job training for people seeking a second chance in life, has closed.

The restaurant at 867 Main St. closed on May 17, said Beth Stafford, the executive director of Manchester Area Conference of Churches.

MACC launched Bistro on Main five years ago as its first social enterprise. The objective of the business was to train people in the food industry and help them find employment.

“It has been a challenging venture, especially with the economic challenges COVID presented to the business community,” Stafford wrote in a press release.

Stafford said the business received two rounds of funding through the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which helped small businesses pay their workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. But despite the loans, the restaurant struggled to find employees, as many people opted to stay home for various reasons, she said.

With the restaurant’s lease set to expire in May, MACC’s Board of Directors decided to close the business.

“It was becoming a little more costly and we really couldn’t afford to dip into the nonprofit side to keep the restaurant going,” Stafford said.

Stafford said her organization does not regret opening Bistro on Main, as they achieved their objective of training people for restaurant jobs.

Bistro on Main served as a training ground for students who underwent MACC’s 13-week culinary program. The program started at the nonprofit’s community kitchen, but Stafford said they wanted to give students real exposure to a restaurant setting. Students interned at Bistro on Main while in the program.

The culinary program gave students advanced kitchen training and taught them basic life and job skills. The restaurant would also assist students with certain basic expenses, such as providing a uniform or paying for a haircut, Stafford said.

Sandra Swensson, who attended the program, said Bistro on Main was her first job working in the restaurant industry. She said she learned many useful skills from the program’s former executive chef, Ben Dubow.

Swensson also described the forgiving nature of the program in helping people who might have been going through low points in their lives.

“MACC didn’t discriminate if you had a criminal record or a drug addiction … they helped people get back on their feet,” Swensson said.

The restaurant saw various changes throughout its five years. It started as a farm-to-table concept serving French cuisine, but switched to being more like a family restaurant to help lower expenses. Also, the restaurant initially didn’t allow tipping, but nixed that policy after realizing patrons felt uncomfortable not leaving a little something for the friendly service.

However, Bistro on Main never wavered in its mission to help others.

Sarah Uerz, who worked at the restaurant as a front of house and catering manager, said the business gave students an opportunity to be successful during certain difficult transitions through their lives.

“To be able to help someone come back from a low point in their life and to be able to give them encouragement and let them know that there is life after rock bottom …  it’s been the most fulfilling job I’ve personally had ever,” Uerz said.

The restaurant’s building on Main Street has drawn interest from two prospective tenants so far, Stafford said.

“Bistro is a turnkey restaurant,” she said. “It’s in good shape, you could walk in and start your business tomorrow.”

MACC will continue the mission of its social enterprise through its community kitchen, Stafford said. It will also host pop-up dining events “to both celebrate and enjoy our future students’ culinary creations,” she said.

WHAT: Bistro on Main, a social enterprise restaurant run by MACC, closed on May 17.

WHO: The restaurant served as a job-training outlet for students who attended the nonprofit’s 13-week culinary program.

NEXT: MACC will continue running its community kitchen and host pop-up dining events to celebrate the culinary creations of future students.

Austin Mirmina covers Manchester and Bolton. You can follow him on Twitter @Austin_Mirmina.

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