State police investigate bomb threat at Zenbarn
October 21, 2023 | By Waterbury Roundabout Oct. 23 UPDATE: This story was updated with a statement from Zenbarn’s owners.
Zenbarn restaurant and nightclub in Waterbury Center. Photo by Gordon Miller
Vermont State Police are investigating a bomb threat made Friday evening to Waterbury Center nightclub and restaurant Zenbarn.
Trooper Tyler Rancourt in a press release late Friday said police received a report of a threatening phone call just before 8 p.m. “At approximately 7:52 p.m., police were notified that a male caller made a bomb threat against Zenbarn,” Rancourt wrote.
The restaurant on Friday evening hosted a Vermont Democratic Party fundraiser, however most of the people in attendance had left the event before the call was received, police said.
“The Vermont State Police takes all reports of bomb threats seriously and Troopers from the Berlin Field Station responded and found no evidence of suspicious devices,” Rancourt said.
Initial investigation indicated that the call originated from a Maine landline and that inquiry is continuing. Vermont investigators are working with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office in Maine to positively identify the caller, police said.
State Rep. Tom Stevens said he and his fellow Waterbury Democratic state Rep. Theresa Wood both attended the state party event. He said he was unaware that the threat occurred. About 80 people attended the political gathering including Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, state Treasurer Mike Pieciak and Attorney General Sarah Copeland Hanzas, according to Jim Dandeneau, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., also was in attendance early in the evening. Dandeneau said Sanders spoke at 6:15 p.m. and left soon afterward. Neither of Vermont’s other two Democratic Congressional delegation members, U.S. Rep. Becca Balint and Sen. Peter Welch, were at the event.
The police response and sweep did not derail Zenbarn’s live entertainment for the evening. Musician Seth Yacovone posted on social media on Saturday that he and his band enjoyed playing at the Waterbury nightspot the previous night.
Zenbarn owners Noah and Ari Fishman shared a note to patrons and community members on Monday:
Thank you to everyone that has reached out with kind words of support after last weekend's bomb threat. Also, big thanks to the State Police for responding quickly and ensuring all our staff and guests were safe. We are all safe and sound and feel confident the police will address the threat appropriately.
While this was a scary incident, it reinforces for us the reason we do what we do. Now, more than ever, we need safe space for community to gather... whether it be to celebrate, to mourn, to debate or to just enjoy some good food and drink.
No threats will undermine our commitment to holding this space. Zenbarn is open to all, regardless of political orientation, perspective, race, gender, belief system, etc. The only thing we require is that you be kind and respectful.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the state police Berlin barracks at 802-229-9191 or provide an anonymous tip online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.