By Guy Page

Citing “downtown struggles,” the owner of a popular Burlington Mexican restaurant announced last week she’s moving the restaurant to Essex Junction. 

“With a heavy heart I must let you know that we are closing El Gato downtown,” Tree Sanchez Bertram said on Facebook November 13. “It was a very hard decision. With all the Covid pivots and downtown struggles, we are now pivoting in a new direction.  

The restaurant will be open for special events and will be on the market for new restaurant ownership,” Bertram said. 

The closing drew a caustic letter from citizen Stephen Miller to the Burlington City Council (included in Nov. 20 meeting informational packet, lightly edited). “They cite it becoming a matter of public safety,” Miller wrote. “And seeing how you cut the police force down and kneecapped the chief, I know I don’t go to Burlington anymore. I don’t feel safe.”