Andrew Breting graduated from Castleton University in 2017, but his love of the Castleton community inspired him to open multiple restaurants in the area.

By Emily Ely, for the Community News Service

“I almost wept the first time I ate their pizza,” said Katie Stager, a junior at Vermont State University Castleton, about Andrew Breting’s first restaurant, Third Place. Many who have had the chance to try Third Place say they agree.

This sentiment applies not only to Third Place, but also to Breting’s other restaurants — The Bomoseen Diner, Bomoseen Dog and Toad’s Burger Barn. These restaurants have become a safe haven for local college students and community members to gather together grab a bite to eat. Breting, a Castleton University alumnus, said he understands the struggle to find a good, local meal as a college student, recalling his own experiences while discussing his original inspiration to open his first restaurant.

“When I went to school, there was really nothing open late night,” Breting said. “The diner would close at 7, the pizza place would close at 7, and no one delivered, so your only real options (were) driving to McDonald’s or driving to Denny’s. … I always felt like there was a need for something right in town.”

Third Place opened in 2017 on Main Street in Castleton, with the goal to provide a place for the community to gather and share good vibes and good food. Breting refers to the regular customers and staff as his “Third Place Family.”

In fact, Breting has become so close with the people who enter his doors that he began to learn their names, their orders, their schedules and their lives. One of the walls in the restaurant is filled with framed photos. Breting pointed out a photo of a man on a sailboat, Ted, whom he said left a big impact on the Third Place Family.

Ted had his own seat in Third Place, and he was a loyal customer that the staff and other regulars bonded with. Ted passed away unexpectedly, and it left a big impact on the Third Place community.

“That hit the whole staff hard,” Breting said with a sigh. “Ted’s family saw that we were one of his places, and he always talked about us. His celebration of life was held here.”

Breting, his staff and the returning customers all understand what the Third Place Family is and what it means, and all share experiences of how it impacts their lives.

Rebecca Rocque, an employee at The Bomoseen Diner, said that Breting is “a very energetic boss and a giving person. He’s very likable and honest and very fair.” She later noted that “his employees all have a lot of respect for him,” which is a common sentiment among Breting’s employees across his restaurants. Even more than that, Breting is driven. Seeing Third Place succeed gave him “an itch” to open the rest.

“You feel great after succeeding with one, you want to reach that same energy with more,” he said.

When asked about why he continues to open restaurants in the Castleton area, Breting discussed his love of and deep involvement in the Castleton community. As a Castleton alum, he said he understands the experience of living in Castleton, which in return helps him see the need for new businesses in the area. His connection to Castleton remains strong, and Breting even co-owns Toad’s Burger Bar in Poultney with Caden Capman, a senior business major at VTSU Castleton.

According to Capman, there is never a dull moment working with Andrew.

“We keep it interesting,” Capman said.

Breting graduated from Castleton in 2017 with a degree in sociology. Because of his major, he worked closely with VTSU sociology Professor Phil Lamy, whom Breting credits the naming of Third Place. Breting took a number of classes with Lamy, but the idea of a “third place” comes from a course Lamy taught called Community in American Society.

One of the assignments Lamy graciously gives to his students who take this course is to read “The Great Good Place,” by Ray Oldenburg. In the book, the idea of a “third place” in one’s community — that is, a place for people to gather that’s separate from home and work — is brought to light and studied.

Lamy described Breting as a student as “a brilliant individual all-around.”

“Anytime you can see a former student succeed and do well, it is so rewarding,” Lamy said. “You know, it’s different seeing kids succeed right in my backyard. … Andrew is just an unbelievably successful kid, he’s a real community person which is the kind of person you want. He’s the perfect example of what we try to do at these Vermont State Colleges.”

Emily Ely reported this story on assignment from the Rutland Herald. The Community News Service is a program in which students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost.