AMHERST — A restaurant that boasted dishes the owners described as fresh and adventurous and encouraged musicians to come and entertain its patrons has closed after six years.

The Lumber Yard Restaurant, 383 Main St. in the Dickinson Historic District, served its last meals on June 24.

It was opened by residents Rolf and Cindy Nelson in fall 2011. In a Facebook post, the Nelsons, who also have run the seasonal Sconset Cafe on Nantucket for 20 years, called the closing a difficult choice and invited people to come one more time to experience the Brussels sprouts.

“You’ve given us a wonderful six-year run and we can’t find the words to thank you enough for that,” the Nelsons wrote. “The pride and enjoyment we’ve had in being a community space for Amherst and the collegiate communities that surround us is unsurpassed.”

Among the menu items the Lumber Yard has served are the popular crispy Brussels sprouts, served with lemon, pistachios and pecorino; the pan-roasted free-range chicken, served with gnocchi; the chilled avocado soup with sweet potatoes, lardons, cilantro and corn paired with a traditional caipirinha; and the shrimp, basil, peas and bell pepper with fried vermicelli.

Phone calls and emails to the Nelsons were not immediately returned.

Pam Rietkerk, an Amherst resident who frequented the restaurant, called it a perfect blend of a neighborhood joint and an upscale bistro, and appreciated that Rolf Nelson took care in ensuring a variety of wine and beer, while Cindy Nelson kept the space warm and inviting.

“The closing of the Lumber Yard is a big loss for our community, but I’m hopeful that someone will step up to build on what they created and continue their vision in that space,” Rietkerk said.

Jerry Guidera, who restored the Henry Hills mansion across Main Street, said the Nelsons are looking for a buyer and, should there be interest, a new restaurant could reopen quickly.

“I think they had a great six-year run, but just ran out of steam for a business that’s so demanding,” Guidera said.

Area musicians say they appreciated that the Lumber Yard was one of the few restaurants in the Amherst and Northampton area where they could regularly play.

Huntington saxophonist Charles Neville said he enjoyed playing at Lumber Yard, as well as Bertucci’s restaurant on East Pleasant Street.

“Both were really nice restaurants to have live music one night a week,” Neville said. “That was really good.”

Neville said his son, Khalif, recently played the Lumber Yard and learned of its closing.

Another musician who could often be found there was Zack Danzinger.

Danzinger said the Lumber Yard was a rare place that invited performers to do live jazz gigs.

“Musicians have to get out and play,” Danzinger said.

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

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