New Eatery Opens on Eagle Street

By Lyndsay DeBordSpecial to iBerkshires
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Alley owner Keith Nogueira
NORTH ADAMS — The owners of the newest eatery to open in the city are hoping its contemporary atmosphere, entertainment and well-stocked bar will appeal to the area's young professionals.

The Alley, located at 23 Eagle St., quietly opened for business on Tuesday.

For several months, signs in the papered-over front windows of the building have announced "Coming Soon," and residents have been wondering when the business would open its doors.

Owner Keith Nogueira, who bought the building in November, didn't close on the property until May when he was finally able to start work on the inside of the building. (The first permits for the restaurant were approved by the city in April.)

"It's a common misconception" that it's taken a long time, said Nogueira, who pointed out that he has been working on renovations for only three months.

The owner called Tuesday a "soft opening" and said he wants to have a grand opening some time in October.

"It's all in the making," added his father and co-owner Jack Nogueira.

Both the exterior and interior of the Alley have been refurbished.
Nogueira said the menu — which they want to make unique and desirable — will be added next Monday and "will slowly keep growing." A selection of sandwiches, paninis and appetizers is now available — as are vegetarian options, such as veggie burgers and salads. Among snacks offered are pesto tenders, topped with pesto and cheese and served with honey mustard sauce.

The proprietors said the newly copper-topped bar is 98 percent complete. Stocked with an assortment of liquors, the Alley's bar also offers patrons Portuguese and Spanish wines, with Rockbrook as the house wine, and Sagras, Portugal's No. 1 selling beer. The owners also say they want to expand offerings by listening to what customers want to drink.

Since the location previously housed Gideon's Nightery (briefly rebranded as EGL Cafe) and before that Joga Cafe, the new owners have made a few changes. Booths that used to take up much of the interior have been removed and replaced with tables and chairs.

More seating looks out onto Eagle Street from the front windows and Nogueira wants to eventually replace this furniture and provide a nighttime lounge atmosphere.

Keith Nogeuira, who has previously worked for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, has a clear idea of what he wants for The Alley.

"My goal is to make it feel like it's always been here," he said.

He said there are other venues for sports and college bars in the city. Instead, he wants to offer "a fun, relaxed atmosphere" and envisions the eatery as a place for young professionals to come after work. He added, "Everyone is welcome."

The Alley also aims to be an entertainment venue with live music. Plans to renovate the upstairs for the space are set for mid- to late October. Nogueira said he would like to have all types of music — a deejay, live band and solo guitar, among others.
  The wood booths that lined interior have been removed, exposing the brickwork.
"You name it, I want to have it," said Nogueira who also wants to have comedy every first Thursday of the month.

Despite the previous the cafes' unsuccessful runs, the new owners have a plan on how to do well at the location. First, they have worked on keeping a low budget for improvements and have prepared for the inevitable slow days.

Keith and Jack Nogueira also stressed that The Alley will be a hands-on, family-run business and said one of the two would always be present.

"This is my full-time job," said Keith.

Downtown North Adams has seen its share of businesses closing over the past few years. Recently, Molly's Bakery, open since 1937, closed its doors on Eagle Street as did the short-lived A&E Decor shop down the street.

But while some businesses have left empty spaces, new shops and restaurants have sprung up. Christo's Famous Pizza has moved into the previous home of North Adams Pizza and Hickory Bill's on Holden Street. On Main Street, Cup & Saucer took over a few years ago where the Appalachian Bean had operated. Also, a new coffee shop is set to open in late September on Ashland Street in the building that was once the Brick Oven.

Nogueira said he believes that North Adams is starting to grow as a community.

"The desire is there for a place like ours. I believe we will do well," he said.

The Alley is open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
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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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