Stew Leonard’s Hoedown Tent Faces Temporary Changes Amid Safety Upgrades In Danbury

DANBURY, CT — The Hoedown Tent at Stew Leonard's in Danbury may temporarily transition to a food truck, as management there looks to make some safety upgrades.

The popular eating annex to the even more popular grocery store located at 99 Federal Road has extinguished its fires as it prepares to comply with more stringent codes, according to a spokesperson.

"For 25 years, we've had the city of Danbury come and inspect the Hoedown before it opens for the season. And every year it's been absolutely fine," Stew Leonard's Marketing Director Megan Bell told Patch. "This year, they asked us to make some modifications to the exhaust and I think a few other things. I'm not totally sure what the specific feedback was, but the upgrades that we need to make were a little costly, and we are in the middle of trying to figure out a Plan B."

That plan includes operating the Hoedown out of a food truck, Bell said, with crews currently "working hard on that."

In the meantime, the eatery remains open, but "it's just not open for hot foods and fried foods like we have in the past. You could do the wraps and whatnot," Bell explained.

She conceded the prospect of a Stew Leonard's Hoedown Food Truck, however deliriously Connecticut and on-brand, would be far from ideal.

"So we're disappointed. But of course, safety first, and we want to make sure that we're doing everything the City of Danbury needs us to do to have a great, delicious space for people to eat, and as soon as we're back in action, we'll be shouting it from the rooftops," Bell said.

The reaction on social media has been furious, inflamed… and fanned by former Danbury mayor/current Connecticut tax commissioner Mark Boughton.

"I can't believe that the Hoe Down Tent @stewleonards has been shut down by the City of Danbury," Boughton blasted on Facebook. "It's been operating the same way for over a decade... C'mon man... Fight The Power!"

Others took to Boughton's Facebook feed wistfully praising the eatery's $9.95 lobster roll, "the best fries," and clam chowder in a bread bowl.

Bell did not have any inkling as to when Stew Leonard's might reopen the Hoedown Tent with all engines burning. Patch has reached out to the Danbury Fire Marshal's Office for specifics on the exhaust upgrade, and will update this story when received.