While I was saddened to read in the Sun Journal last week that Bon Vivant had closed its doors, I know that it was not a failure.
I was one of the founders of Sonder & Dram, the bar at the end of Ash Street in Lewiston. It was risky to open Sonder & Dram, as there was nothing like it in Lewiston-Auburn.
In 2019, I left the business due to other commitments, but the remaining owners carried on. Despite a global pandemic and against all odds, they forged ahead with Bon Vivant and their vision for a new, vibrant dining experience in Lewiston. Bon Vivant’s owners turned a vacant Subway sandwich shop on Lisbon Street into a shining, elegant place for contemporary dining.
While things may not have worked out at Bon Vivant, it was not a failure. Its mere existence revealed what is possible in our community when people dream big and work tirelessly in pursuit of those dreams. Bon Vivant’s owners brought something new to the community that, for a while at least, made our Twin Cities better. “Timing is everything,” but the timing was not right for Bon Vivant.
I am proud of the owners for their hard work and appreciate their belief in L/A, despite the odds. Our economy is built upon the bricks laid by those who dare to dream.
I am grateful that the owners of Bon Vivant dared to dream. I’ll continue supporting them and their employees at Sonder & Dram.
Jim Pross, Auburn
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