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Former Pittsfield Burger Kings Sold At Auction

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's two former Burger King restaurants sold for more than $2 million on Wednesday but both new owners are mum on details about the future.

The properties on Merrill Road and First Street were auctioned after TD Bank foreclosed on former owner Richard George, who abruptly closed the restaurants in June.

The Merrill Road location sold for $1.275 million after nearly 20 minutes of bidding.

The new owner refused to even provide his name to media as he walked to his black Audi following the auction. Auctioneers said they could not provide even a name without the new owner's consent.

That bid opened at $500,000 with more than a dozen registered to bid but only a few actually wagering.

The Merrill Road property consists of more than 5.8 acres of land, was constructed in 1979 and renovated in 1999 and features a walk-in cooler, kitchen, seating space for more than 129 and two storage rooms. Inside, shoes were sticking to the floor and Burger King items littered the countertops in the kitchen.

The new owners were required to provide 10 percent of the bid and close on the property in 45 days.

The auction was conducted by Thomas Saturley and Michael Carey of Tranzon Auction Properties. They later were to auction George's third Burger King, located in Lenox.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.