Top Articles of 2023: The Comus Inn Closes; New Ownership to Take Over

As 2023 winds down, we wanted to share with you some of the most-read articles of 2023. This article was originally published on November 22, 2023.

The Comus Inn, at 23900 Old Hundred Rd. in Dickerson, has announced that it has been sold and will be closing on November 26th. The new owners are expected to take over in mid to late December.
The Comus Inn opened on October 28th, 2020. The previous version of the restaurant closed in January 2020 and was purchased by Doug Yurechko who transformed the Inn into a beer garden with a new menu created by Chef Sammy D. The Comus Inn dates back to 1862 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The full statement by Comus Inn can be seen below:

“It is with bittersweet emotion that I write today’s post. I have received an offer to sell The Comus Inn, which I have accepted. This was a very difficult and heartbreaking decision for me. I have poured my heart and soul into Comus, but it is time for me to move on. As it is currently scheduled, the new owners should be taking over in mid-late December.

Unfortunately, that means that this coming Sunday, November 26, will be our last day of service. After that service, I will be closing down in order to properly prepare the building for sale.

For those that know my story, this dream started shortly after my dad passed away, and was based on his mantra to “Have Some Fun Today”. My goal with Comus was simply that – to create a spot where friends and family could gather to make memories and have some fun, and I firmly believe that we did that.

I consider myself very fortunate to have built and cultivated such an amazing community at Comus…but I tell people all the time, all I did was build the framework. It was my amazing staff and our incredible guests that made Comus what it was. To me, Comus became so much more than just a restaurant and beer garden. It was a special place with a great spirit. It was nostalgic and campy. It was joyful and happy. It was playful and fun. It was young and old. It was a familiar. And it was welcoming. It just felt different when you were here, and for me personally, there was nothing I enjoyed more than seeing families and friends having fun and sharing time with each other – smiling, laughing, dancing, and playing. I can only hope that its legacy will live on with those who frequented us, and that you will hold fond memories of your time here with family and friends.

I would also like to thank my amazing staff. We have been through the ringer over the last three years. We opened in the middle of COVID. We had to deal with the pandemic, with indoor dining restrictions, with staffing shortages, with inflation, with floods, and so much more. We were constantly adapting and changing, but it was their flexibility and positive attitude that were critical to our success. I have had a lot of great employees over the last 3 years, and they consistently made me proud. They were the life-blood of Comus. They worked tirelessly to take care of you, and they always did it with a smile, no matter how hard their day was. I offer them my most sincere thank you. I love you all.

Lastly, please stay tuned to our social media feeds over the next couple of days as we should be running several specials and possibly a “farewell event” on Sunday. We will have further details as they become known. I hope that some of you can come out and join us one last time, to say goodbye, and to celebrate some of your favorite staff members.

So, this is it. It has been a great run, and I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished. I can’t thank all of you enough for your support over the last 3-years, and I feel very fortunate to call many of you my friends.

The sun is setting on my run at Comus, but I just want to leave you with the following sentiment…You only get one trip around, and you should cherish every day with those that matter. Live and love, and most importantly, always remember to have some fun…it is the secret to life!

I offer my most sincere thanks to all of you for going on this journey with me, and for your support and friendship. I appreciated getting to meet and know so many of you, and I thank you for welcoming me into your life.

Have Some Fun Today!

Doug Yurechko”