A Community Anchor

By Colleen Gundlach

The dream of many chefs is to own a restaurant of their own. It takes years of dedication, long hours and just plain hard work to achieve, yet is a goal that many never attain. For Heidi Dinsmore, co-owner of Wood Creek Bar and Grill, her hard work has led her on a path to ownership that began as a dream, wound around the country and now reaches out to the Norfolk community in a special way.

At age 16, Dinsmore had her first taste of working in food service and was hooked from day one. Over the years, she worked in all aspects of the industry and traveled to follow her passion. At such places as Martha’s Vineyard and the Caribbean and on to Arizona, she gained experience and met people whose influence encouraged her to reach for her goal of being a restaurant owner. Her travels eventually led her to Winsted, and her dream began taking shape when she opened Mad River Grill on Main Street. The business was hugely successful in more ways than one. It was there that Heidi met her future husband, Michael Dinsmore, and the two became a powerful team in the restaurant business.

It wasn’t long before the couple made a move to Norfolk and became innkeepers at the Manor House on Maple Avenue, and later, when the opportunity arose to lease space in the Royal Arcanum building, they jumped at the opportunity.

“I had always loved that building,” says Heidi Dinsmore. “My late friend Jane Lloyd and I used to ‘dream on’ things we really wanted. Often we would drive by the Royal Arcanum and say, ‘I dreamt on that building,’ meaning that we would love to be able to live or work there.” That dream came true when the Dinsmores became the owners of the Wood Creek Bar and Grill in 2010.

Wood Creek soon became more than just a restaurant and place for people to gather. The business is now well-known as much for its community outreach as it is for its highly-rated fare. Heidi Dinsmore says it’s all about karma. “We were able to buy this business with the help of Norfolk people who knew us from our earlier businesses and who knew we would do well as pub owners,” she says. “ We have had the support of the Norfolk community from the beginning and we like to give back. It’s who we are.”

Many people know about the regular outreaches at Wood Creek Bar and Grill. The ever-popular Trivia Night draws teams and individuals alike, vying for the win of the night. Then there’s Norfolk Night, when three-course meals are offered at a low rate. One of the biggest draws, though, is a karaoke fundraiser for the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department. Karaoke Night brings people of all walks of life—and of all levels of vocal talents—to Wood Creek for a lot of fun and laughs. The Dinsmores generously provide the disk jockey and donate the restaurant space for this event each year.

Community outreach is an important aspect of the Wood Creek philosophy, and the Dinsmores put an emphasis in their business on helping the many non-profit organizations in town. They often help the Lions Club, Norfolk Library, both churches in town, Botelle School, Regional 7 and the Curling Club with food and assistance when needed. They are known for their help with numerous fundraisers and benefits throughout town.

“A pub on the corner of Station Place and Greenwoods Road has been a hub of the town for 30 years before we were here,” says Heidi Dinsmore. “We wouldn’t be here now without the support of the Norfolk community. We are simply doing our part and paying it forward.”

Photo, top, of the bar at Wood Creek Pub,, by Bruce Frisch.