Friends Open Wings Over Burlington In Blue Mall

The Burlington Free Press:

When old friends Zak Keller, 30, and Jenn DeMaroney, 31, decided to open a restaurant together, ‘Everyone told us, ‘Oh the restaurant business, those are long hours,’ DeMaroney recalled recently, a little more than a month after the pair opened Wings Over Burlington in South Burlington.

That aspect of their new career, they said, they knew how to handle. ‘We are working a lot of hours,’ DeMaroney said, ‘but not as many hours as we used to.’

Keller and DeMaroney, originally from Burlington and South Burlington respectively, met at the University of Vermont working for the rescue squad. Following graduation, both worked for local police departments and then together they headed to the Center for Donation and Transplant in Albany where they helped to coordinate organ donations. It was rewarding work, the two reflected, but also involved long, emotionally draining days and nights.

When the friends started brainstorming a change of career together, the restaurant business appealed to them. ‘I love food,’ DeMaroney said. ‘I’ve always wanted to do something with food.’

Carry on reading.