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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
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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,   

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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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