AMHERST — The Lone Wolf, a 17-year restaurant in downtown Amherst, will not be reopening as the COVID-19 pandemic eases.

Owner and chef Rob Watson announced in a letter to customers on the restaurant’s Facebook page that he has decided not to resume operations of the sit-down breakfast and lunch cafe at 63 Main St., which temporarily closed in spring 2020, reopened last summer, but then shut down again through the winter.

“You all have helped create a warm and welcoming family vibe that has been an integral part of the atmosphere at The Lone Wolf,” Watson wrote in his farewell message to customers.

He anticipates the catering side of the business to return in the fall and that he will be fully recovered from knee replacement surgery he had while the business was closed.

“This is not a goodbye,” Watson wrote. “I will see you in the neighborhood, hopefully at a fundraiser or catering event.”

With The Lone Wolf’s closing, half of the storefronts on the south side of Main Street between Town Hall and the police station are now empty, with Amherst Barbers, 69 Main St., closing earlier this year due to the retirement of its owner and the long-term empty space at 61 Main St., most recently used by Himalaya Friends Corner restaurant five years ago.

Paradise of India restaurant at 87 Main St. has remained open for indoor dining and takeout, while the Black Sheep Deli, at 79 Main St., closed since late December, remains on track for a reopening in August, with a traditional menu of baked goods and an expanded market.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.]]>