American Flatbread 40th Anniversary Celebration

On Thursday, August 14, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., the Mad River Valley will gather at Lareau Farm for something extraordinary: the 40th Anniversary Community Fest celebrating American Flatbread and its founders, George and George Schenk. There will be free flatbread, live music, and a bonfire—but what we’re really celebrating is something far bigger than great food.

American Flatbread is more than a restaurant. It’s an experience. It’s a story of how an idea—born from a simple desire to feed friends—has grown into a cornerstone of our community. When George Schenk baked that first flatbread in 1985 in a wood-fired stone oven at his Warren home, he wasn’t thinking about building a business empire. He was sharing a meal, an act of hospitality that would go on to define not just his career, but a central part of what makes the Mad River Valley such a special place. In the decades since, George and George have created something truly rare: a business that succeeds because of its values. Before “socially responsible” was a buzzword, American Flatbread was living it—supporting local farms, using organic ingredients, featuring student artwork, feeding kids in hospitals, and giving back through countless community events and benefit bakes. Their work has always been about more than just serving food; it’s been about creating connection.

For visitors, dining at American Flatbread is a highlight of any trip here. For locals, it’s a reminder of what we value: authenticity, creativity, sustainability, and each other. Whether you’ve eaten in the early days in coats and mittens by the oven’s warmth, or under the glow of the Lareau Farm bonfire, you know that a meal there is a memory you carry.

The Schenk’s journey hasn’t always been easy—there have been pivots, challenges, and reinventions. But at every turn, they’ve chosen the path that keeps them rooted here, focusing on what matters most: community, good food, and a way of life they believe in. In doing so, they’ve built something that defines our Valley just as much as our mountains and rivers do.

On behalf of the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce, I want to say how deeply valued George and George are—not just as business owners, but as neighbors, leaders, and visionaries. American Flatbread is a shining example of how experiences shape our identity as a community.

So, on August 14, let’s raise a slice to 40 years of fire, food, and friendship—and to the people who remind us that the best things in life are meant to be shared.