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The Lantern on North Street re-opened last month after being closed for just short of two years.

The Lantern Reopened In Pittsfield

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — For a century, The Lantern Bar & Grill has been a stalwart landmark in the city's downtown.
 
Thousands of people have eaten in the restaurant at the corner of Linden and North and it had remained through generations of changes to the city's downtown. But, in 2017, Mark Papas decided it was time to close. 
 
Last month, however, the neon sign lit back up and the smell of food cooking refilled the area. The Lantern was back. Bjorn Somlo used to eat there all of the time and he didn't want to see the landmark disappear so he took it over.
 
"We didn't want to see The Lantern close. We didn't want to see it go away. And we didn't want to see the sign being taken down," Somlo said.
 
Somlo is the owner of Nudel in Lenox. He said it wasn't really his plan to own multiple restaurants but he would joke with Papas from time to time about how if he was going to close, Somlo wanted a phone call.
 
In 2017, he got that call and talks began. 
 
"If we didn't do it, it just would have been gone. It is a great piece of Pittsfield's history," Somlo said. 
 
Mill Town Capital also got involved. The investment firm owns properties nearby and has been driving a lot of economic growth in the area. Tim Burke, a principal with Mill Town, thought bringing Somlo downtown would be a nice way to keep The Lantern alive. 
 
"I always had a lot of respect for Bjorn's talent," Burke said, adding that he had urged Somlo to open something in Pittsfield multiple times in the past.
 
Burke wasn't just a fan of Somlo but also saw the building in a similar way. He, too, didn't want to see it close.
 
"It still has that old-school feel," Burke said. "It's always been a unique downtown legacy."
 
Mill Town Capital purchased the building, which also houses three other commercial tenants, as well as the tavern. The group later sold the tavern business to Somlo and a six-month renovation process began. 
 
"It was basically the infrastructure, the things you don't see," Somlo said of the work.
 
The work included plumbing, electric, a new hood for the grill, and handicapped access compliance. Somlo said he tried to keep as much of what guests see the way it had been.
 
"Bjorn had a really strong vision for what he wanted," Burke said.
 
Raymond Stalker, who has been the chef at Nudel for five years, recrafted the menu. Somlo described the new menu as keeping the Americana feel of the original but with some updating. 
 
"It's the food you know done really well," Somlo said.
 
The beer and wine menu was also expanded and the tavern opened in January.
 
The Lantern is open from 5 until 10 Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday, but Somlo said if the demand is there, it could open for lunch as early as the spring. So far, Somlo said the response from the community has been "incredible."
 
"It's been incredible. There are so many people who stop in when they see the neon light on just to say thank you," he said.

Tags: bars, taverns,   North Street,   reopening,   restaurants,   

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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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