Cumberland Farms Seeks to Build on Commercial Street

Cumberland Farms wants to purchase three lots including Al's Service Center to build a new gas station and convenience store. 

ADAMS, Mass. — Cumberland Farms is proposing to construct a new gas station and retail store on the site of Al's Service Center at 95 Commercial St.

Cumberland Farms will go before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday, May 22, to seek three variances needed to erect and run a 24-hour gas station and convenience store.

The company has reportedly been seeking a location on Commercial Street for some years. A smaller, older — less than 2,000 square feet — store has been open since the 1980s at 46 Commercial, at the corner of Edmund Street. The lot is only about a third of an acre with little room to expand.

The company over the past decade has been updating or building much larger stores with more offerings, including on Curran Highway and Union Street in North Adams. It currently has a purchase-and-sales agreement to construct a third store on Ashland Street in North Adams.

According to documents submitted to the town, the convenience store will be 5,275 square feet and there will be four fueling stations.

The proposed development will utilize three parcels: 5 Elm St. and 89 and 95 Commercial St. Cumberland Farms intends to remove the service center as well as two two-story buildings on the parcels. Two 20,000-gallon underground gasoline tanks will be installed.

The facility will have 25 parking spots and will include landscaping, signage and lighting. There will be two proposed curb cuts on Columbia Street and Prospect Street.

The service center and two structures are currently owned by Carol L. Ostrowski.

Cumberland Farms will be asking for a variance to allow the redevelopment of the service center and adjacent land for the convenience store and gas station in an R-4 zoning district, to be open 24 hours and for the two curb cuts.

North County Marks Memorial Day With Mount Greylock Trek, Ceremonies

By Jack Guerino, Tammy Daniels & Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
01:07PM / Sunday, May 24, 2026

Laurie Boudreau sings the national anthem during Memorial Day ceremonies at Clarksburg Town Hall on Sunday. 

ADAMS, Mass. — As they do every Sunday before Memorial Day, local veterans braved the elements to pay respects on Mount Greylock to fallen comrades.

 

"Past commanders have been coming up here for 93 years. I have been coming up for 64," said Adams American Legion member Donald Sommer. "We have had all kinds of weather, but this is some of the worst. It shows the dedication that we have for those who have gone before us and made the ultimate sacrifice."

 

Heavy winds and sleet met the motorcade at the summit. The Veterans War Memorial Tower — first built to honor World War I veterans — was barely visible and the 30 or so veterans and their families made their way to the memorial arm and arm, fighting the wind. 

 

The ceremony was held inside of the monument with only a rifle squad and taps player briefly stepping outside to conduct their part of the truncated ceremony. 

 

"It is important that we continue these ceremonies, not only for us, but for everyone else," Sommer continued. "So they remember what happened."

 

Veterans met early at the Adams American Legion Post 160 and promptly formed a motorcade to scale the mountain. The oppressive weather forced the Legion Riders off their motorcycles.

 

The group met at the Jones Nose Parking lot about halfway up the mountain to enjoy a traditional cocktail and toast fellow veterans.