Cumberland Farms Cuts Ribbon On Renovated Dalton Store

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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The Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts helped cut the ribbon on the renovated Cumberland Farms store on Thursday.

DALTON, Mass. — Cumberland Farms is trying to break the stigma of "gas station food."

The company has been revamping its nearly 600 stores with ovens, coffee bar and an array of freshly made food offerings — from pizza to chicken tenders to hot dogs to macaroni and cheese bites.

On Thursday, company officials celebrated the Dalton store's renovation with a ribbon cutting and tastings of the new menu.


"We're trying to get away from the 'gas station food' stigma," said Matt Balaschi, a company marketing associate. "This is our 'grand' opening but we've been open for the last month."

Williamstown's Cumberland Farms was among the first stores to get a face-lift five years ago after a fire severely damaged the building.

The company is planning a new store in North Adams at the former Greenberg's Home Center location on Curran Highway.

The company shut down the Dalton store for about three months to completely renovate the interior. Dalton's location in 175th remodel completed — so they are about one-third of the way through. The company has store though New England, New York and in Florida.

Coupled with the grand opening, the store is running a fundraiser for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts. For every hot coffee the store sells in the next month, 10 cents will be donated to the organization. Balaschi said the goal is to raise $1,000.

The Girl Scouts were on hand Thursday to cut the ribbon with company officials.

Cumberland Farm began in 1939 as a farm in Cumberland, R.I., and opened the first convenience store in 1962. It now has stores in 11 states and employes 6,000. The Massachusetts-based company says the entire chain sells 20 million cups of coffee a year.


Tags: convenience store,   fundraiser,   grand opening,   

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Dalton Planning Board OKs Gravel Company Permit

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Planning Board approved the renewal of Nichols Sand and Gravel's special permit for earth removal. 
 
The company, located at 190 Cleveland Road, operates a gravel pit there. 
 
The hours of operation will remain 7 to 4 p.m. The commission approved owner Paul Nichols' request to allow trucks to depart the property in either direction. 
 
Nichols has to apply for renewal of the special permit every year. The previous permit required the truck to exit the property to the right.
 
It makes more sense to go left if truck drivers have to go to the Pittsfield area, Nichols said. He has talked to the residents in the area and they are agreeable to the change. 
 
Former residents requested this stipulation nearly 16 years ago to reduce the number of trucks using the residential street to avoid disturbing the quality of life and neighborhood. 
 
There weren't any residents present during the meeting who expressed concerns regarding this change.
 
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