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Hangar owner Harold Tramazzo discussed the restaurant with the Licensing Board on Monday.

Licensing Board Approves Liquor License for Hangar of Pittsfield

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD,Mass. — Hangar of Pittsfield is looking to open by July after receiving the liquor license formerly held by Chameleons.
 
Harold Tramazzo owns three other Hangar Bar and Grills and is looking to purchase the former Chameleons and open his fourth restaurant there. He told the Licensing Board on Monday that he hopes to close on the purchase of the property in February, renovate the space, and then open mid-summer.
 
"There is a lot of work that needs to be done in that building. No one has been in there for years," Tramazzo said.
 
Chameleons closed in 2014 and has since been vacant. The property owner, Pamela Rice, has been looking to either sell it or find a new tenant. The biggest hurdle for Tramazzo in order to open was the liquor license, which he jumped easily with a unanimous vote of the Licensing Board.
 
"I've never had any citizens of Pittsfield approach me or call me regarding a change of manager or transfer of license. You have been an exception," Licensing Board member Richard Stockwell said. "People who have gone to your restaurant in Amherst really have raved about what you do there."
 
Hangar is a popular eatery, starting first next to the University of Massachusetts and has since expanded with restaurants in Westfield and Greenfield. The Greenfield one opened just last year. 
 
"We're a sports bar, known to be a sports bar even though we don't put it on the sign. We are primarily known for our chicken wings," Tramazzo said.
 
In Pittsfield, the restaurant will be open from 11:30 a.m. until 1 a.m. every day except Monday. Monday it will open at 4 p.m. Tramazzo said he doesn't plan any entertainment beyond a jukebox. 
 
Tramazzo said he will be putting managers in place from his other restaurants but most of the staff of nearly 40 will come from the Pittsfield area. 
 
"I've had a liquor license for 20 years now in Amherst. We have had no citation with the ABCC in all of that time. We run a pretty tight ship," Tramazzo said.
 
In other business, the Licensing Board approved raising the fees for liquor licenses by 7 percent. The difference is half of what was originally proposed. The board had been looking to raise fees after nearly a decade as a way to help generate revenue for the city and offset the rising cost of staff time to process the licenses. 
 
"This is being done because the fees have not been increased in nine years," Licensing Board member Diane Pero said.
 
The increase will bring an additional $8,000 into the city per year, Pero estimated. The increase was about half of what was proposed earlier this year but the owner of Madison's Cafe objected to such a sharp increase. The board agreed to lower the increase to help curb the additional burden on the small bars and taverns.
 
"There has been some compromise, which often is a good thing," Licensing Board member Thomas Campoli said.

Tags: new business,   license board,   liquor license,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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