La Petite Creperie and Bistrot in Woodstock moving to Barrington

WOODSTOCK – A popular restaurant on the Woodstock Square is closing and moving to Barrington by early May, after the owner was unable to work with city officials on building improvements, a business partner said.

Situated inside the old Sheriff's House for roughly 10 years, La Petite Creperie and Bistrot will soon relocate to the Foundry Mall in Barrington under the new name Epicure Bistro, said John Busse, an equity partner to La Petite owner Kathy Cappas.

Both the Sheriff's House and conjoined Old Courthouse are owned by the city, which has explored numerous options to redevelop the historic properties since acquiring them in 2011.

The lengthy process frustrated La Petite, after it tried for years to communicate to the city its desire to improve the Sheriff's House, Busse said.

"The building simply presents too many issues," Busse said. "Since November 2013, we've worked with the city but have been unable to agree on a plan for building improvements."

City officials met with the La Petite owner last week, when Cappas told them that she planned to relocate to Barrington.

Officials thought Cappas' mind was already set on the move but didn't know her future plans until Cappas announced it on La Petite's website a few days ago, said Cort Carlson, community and economic development director.

"We are always disappointed to lose a business, especially one on the Square and one that has been here long term," Carlson said. "The business brought something unique and different to the Square, but we are also confident that the location is attractive and leasable again."

La Petite did formally submit a plan to the city in early 2014 to make roughly $470,000 in building improvements to the Sheriff's House, a part of the city's initial effort to try and redevelop both historic Square properties.

La Petite's plan would have expanded the restaurant and renovated just the Sheriff's House.

The city received two other proposals from private investors after its request-for-proposal process concluded in early 2014. But officials have since appeared to move away from the process without formally declaring it dead.

In fall 2014, Woodstock City Council members developed their own ideas for the properties, suggesting to city administrators that Woodstock could retain ownership and redevelop the Old Courthouse into a mixture of uses anchored by a brew pub.

Last month, officials brought experts from the Urban Land Institute to survey the historic properties and make redevelopment recommendations. The suggestions are a part of a final report expected to be released sometime this month.

As its own improvement plan waned, La Petite has seen the city start construction on the front steps to its business.

Crews have replaced the aging steps with makeshift platforms made from plywood, a part of a rehabilitation project that has so far lasted nearly six months, Busse said.

"The only reason we are leaving Woodstock is because the inability to continue in that building without some kind of improvements," Busse said.