The York County location of local bakery and restaurant the Carrot Tree will close on Dec. 19 due to an ongoing dispute with the National Park Service over the amount of money that would be involved in a new contract.
A 10-year contract with the National Park Service began in 2003 when the Yorktown location opened for business in the historic Cole Digges House. The Yorktown location is successful, but it can’t remain open under the terms being offered by the National Park Service, said Glenn Helseth, husband of Carrot Tree owner Debi Helseth.
“The proposed contract terms are so egregious that we would not in our right minds sign the new contract,” Glenn Helseth said.
The Park Service did not respond to requests for comment.
Helseth said they haven’t pursued any new locations in York County, though he said “we’re interested in seeing the Carrot Tree name continue in York County.” He said he has heard people in the community echo that sentiment.
“In essence, I’m putting 10-12 staff people on the streets the week before Christmas,” Helseth said. “I’ve been doing this for 10 years. It’s hard to imagine I won’t be back in the building in January.”
Helseth would like the Williamsburg location to absorb the York County staff, though he is not sure if that’s possible to do with everyone.
“Working now is a very slow funeral dirge,” Helseth said. “It’s being replayed over and over. We’ve been a lot of things to a lot of people—I’d like to see us continue.”
