image description
David Brazeau and girlfriend Liz Funke stand behind the counter at Brazeau's new butcher shop on State Road.

Third-Generation Butcher Opening New Shop in North Adams

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

The shop opens on Wednesday at the corner of State Road and Hawthorne Avenue. Owner David Brazeau hopes to expand into a deli and small market.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — David Brazeau knows meat. The third generation butcher said he wants to provide the community with quality wholesome meat and cuts and fill a needed void.

"My grandfather, my father, and myself have all worked for Price Chopper supermarkets," said the North Adams native and owner of Brazeau's Butcher Shop at 746 State Road. "Also, people are concerned about what they are eating and where it comes from.

"They are not happy with the prepackaged commercial stuff that is being rammed down their throats. They can come here they know what they are getting."

Brazeau worked at the Price Chopper as the assistant meat manager for 15 years and also ran a seasonal butcher shop from his home. He decided it was time to parlay his experience into a new business after local supermarket closed earlier this year.

"I kind of always wanted to have my own shop ... and once they closed Price Chopper down, I thought it would be tough for a whole supermarket to find jobs," Brazeau said. "So I had a good following down there and people were asking me what I was going to do so I thought I would go for it."

He said he will carry Stock Yard Angus Beef products along with Prairie Farm products, a natural organic option.

People can expect the basics: rib eye and T-bone steaks, fresh ground hamburger. Even slab bacon, sausage patties, pork chops, and pre-shredded pulled pork.

If the customer wants something special, he will try to oblige.

"If people are asking for certain things we will try to make everybody happy the best we can and we can customize," Brazeau said. "If they don't see it, they can ask me to cut anything with the product we have."

He added there will be items that will vary such as steak Florentine, marinated London broil, and different dry rubs.

And the sausage.

"I have my grandfather's recipe from when he first started off at Central Market [Price Chopper's predecessor] and that was the recipe that they used," Brazeau said.

Brazeau's girlfriend Liz Funke said they will have comparable prices to the markets and will have something to fit everyone's budget.

"We want to have something for everyone, and we will have the pricier steaks for people who love that stuff and love to cook at home," Funke said. "But if people want come in and get something more reasonable, we will have something for their budget."

Brazeau said he has a bigger vision and hopes to eventually open up a complete market.

"What I would like to see happen here is it become Brazeau's Market, where we actually have a deli, possibly a bakery, cold cuts, sandwiches, soups, and things like that."

The grand opening will be Wednesday, May 25. The shop will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 to 6.


Tags: new business,   butcher,   food,   grand opening,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Clarksburg Sees Race for Select Board Seat

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town will see a three-way race for a seat on the Select Board in May. 
 
Colton Andrews, Seth Alexander and Bryana Malloy returned papers by Wednesday's deadline to run for the three-year term vacated by Jeffrey Levanos. 
 
Andrews ran unsuccessfully for School Committee and is former chairman of the North Adams Housing Authority, on which he was a union representative. He is also president of the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Council.
 
Malloy and Alexander are both newcomers to campaigning. Malloy is manager of industrial relations for the Berkshire Workforce Board and Alexander is a resident of Gates Avenue. 
 
Alexander also returned papers for several other offices, including School Committee, moderator, library trustee and the five-year seat on the Planning Board. He took out papers for War Memorial trustee and tree warden but did not return them and withdrew a run for Board of Health. 
 
He will face off in the three-year School Committee seat against incumbent Cynthia Brule, who is running for her third term, and fellow newcomer Bonnie Cunningham for library trustee. 
 
Incumbent Ronald Boucher took out papers for a one-year term as moderator but did not return them. He was appointed by affirmation in 2021 when no won ran and accepted the post again last year as a write-in.
 
View Full Story

More North Adams Stories