UPDATED: 1790 Owner: 'I'm Done Now'

Updated, 10 a.m.: Owner Kurt Pearson responded to Patch with the following statement:

After a full career in the restaurant business - spanning over 40 years -- I've decided to move on and turn the operation of the 1790 to another entity.

The 1790 property- a beacon on route 9 for over 220 years - is now available for lease or sale. It is my hope that this national landmark be cherished and well maintained as a restaurant, or in yet another new form in the years to come.

Built as a "gentleman's mansion" in an era of horse drawn carriages, it has served as a family homestead, an antique gallery, and in its longest and current form, a restaurant. It was purchased in 1973 by my father, Eric Pearson, and his business partner, Ralph Swedberg, as the Bergson Ice Cream Corporation's landmark fine dining establishment. The Pearson family has proudly carried forth the mission of the 1790 for over three decades.

The 1790 has been the destination for the area's most celebrated life moments -- home to generations of engagements, rehearsal dinners, weddings, baby showers, birthdays, and graduation dinners. Over the last decade, the back tavern fit the need for upscale casual dining, featuring hand-crafted foods, and live jazz and blues.

On behalf of the staff of the 1790 and my family, I'd like to thank you for choosing to make your memories with us in this very special property. The average lifespan for a restaurant is less than 7 years -- thanks to you, the 1790 fed the area's heart and soul for close to 40! 

Thanks for all of your support, and thanks for the nice emails and notes about your special times at the 1790! 

Pearson concluded his email with these remarks: "Do you remember the movie 'Forrest Gump'? Forrest starts running and running one coast to another and all sorts of people followed and  were very interested, then one day he simply stopped, turned around and one person asked why did you stop running? His answer was 'I'm done now.' Well, that pretty much sums it up for me as well and I expect to have the rented or sold in the next few months, as there are several interested parties.

Original story:

Westborough residents and Route 9 travelers have lost a historic restaurant that served the area for more than 40 years. The 1790 House Restaurant & Tavern has shuttered its doors, and owner of the property, Kurt Pearson, is looking for new tenants or a possible buyer, he told the Worcester Business Journal. 

The restaurant was started in 1974 by Pearson’s father, Eric, and the website states “we are currently closed for vacation until 7/17.” 

“We have very little information,” regarding the closure, said Jim Malloy, Westborough town manager.

Saddled by more than $10,000 in back meal taxes, according to the WBJ, Pearson’s company, Bergson Ice Cream & Food Shops, placed a for sale/lease sign on the property several weeks ago.

The taxes span a period from October 2011 to February 2012. A small payment was made to the town of Westborough on July 10, said Joanne Savignac, town treasurer and collector. There is nothing owed to the town “that is way past due,” she said.