Avery Family Begins Transformation At Former Peno’s Bar

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Scott Avery and family are moving forward with renovations to the property at 139 Ashland St. in North Adams. Renovations to the building began officially the morning of Wednesday, April 4, when Mayor John Barrett III to the first swing at an interior wall of what will soon be operated by the Averys as "Canteen." Canteen will be a restaurant featuring American regional comfort foods and cocktails in a Mission-style inspired interior.

"Mayor Barrett, and the entire staff at City Hall, have been very encouraging and helpful with this process from the beginning," said Walter W. Avery, who with his wife Anita is helping Scott Avery with this venture. "We thought it only appropriate that the mayor take a "first swing" at what will be one of many new restaurants he has worked hard to bring to North Adams."

The Averys purchased the building last October from Robert Pontier.

"Bob operated Peno's for many years in North Adams," Avery said. "He was ready for retirement at the same time we were looking to invest in a downtown North Adams location. The timing couldn't have been better."


Scott Avery, perhaps best known as a local caterer and restaurateur at the former Savories of Williamstown, will operate Canteen.

"I am very excited to be involved with all the new growth here in North Adams. We will have a facility that will not only house a state-of-the-art kitchen for both catering and a restaurant, but a comfortable and welcoming environment for our guests," he said. "Architect David Westall is to be congratulated on his interior and exterior designs for the building. Once finished by Kip MacDonald and Jim Secor of MacDonald-Secor Associates of Bennington, Canteen will surely be a North County destination."

Canteen is planning a construction party in the near future. To be added to the Canteen mailing list for information about this and other opening events, contact Scott Avery at 663-8656 or by email at chefscott@att.net.
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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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