NORWICH – A new restaurant will soon be opening in Norwich. Dusty’s Dairy Bar and Grill will be opening on Jan. 16. Taking the space previously occupied by The Bagel Buddy located on Route 12 at the north end of town, Dusty’s hopes to fill the niche left behind by the closing of the other restaurant.

Dustin and Renee Byrne, the owners of Dusty’s, are natives of Norwich. “We always wanted to open our own restaurant,” Dustin said. When The Bagel Buddy closed, the Byrnes had their opportunity. “The price was right, and everything seemed to be falling into place,” Dustin said. The Byrnes are currently renting the building, but if things go according to plan, they hope to be able to purchase the location in the near future.

The Byrnes plan to have the restaurant open year-round. Like their predecessor, they will continue to offer ice cream and bagels, but they plan to add many new selections to the menu as well. “We’re going to have a full breakfast and lunch menu,” Dustin said. Dusty’s Dairy Bar and Grill will be a full service restaurant with a wait staff. According to Dustin, the Byrnes hope to hire two to three employees to wait tables.