Letter: Letter Writer Has Confidence in Restaurant Architect

To the Editor:

In your article, "Porches Inn Gets OK to Proceed With River Street Demolition, New Restaurant," I was pleased to see that the project will be designed by the firm MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple, a Canadian firm.

I have crossed paths with Brian MacKay-Lyons over a period of more than 40 years. His award-winning work has consistently been of the highest quality and especially responsive to its setting. I have complete confidence that the Porches is doing North Adams a great service.

Sincerely,

Howard Itzkowitz
North Adams, Mass.

Architect (retired), Professor Emeritus, Southern Polytechnic State University

North Adams Label Shopper Reopens in New Location

Staff Reports11:36AM / Friday, April 10, 2026

A grand opening banner indicates the store's opening. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — In a matter of days, Label Shopper in the L-shaped mall moved across the parking lot into new quarters and hung out a grand opening sign. 

 

"Oh my, it's gorgeous!" said a customer walking into the bright, airy and expanded discount clothing store.

 

Label Shopper, a subsidiary of Peter Harris Clothes of Latham, N.Y., has been in downtown North Adams since 2009. It closed on Monday to move into the former Gordman's space in the former Kmart plaza. 

 

Gordmans briefly replaced Peebles until the parent company of the two brands declared bankruptcy and closed its stores in 2020. The space has been vacant until now.

 

Label Shopper's grand opening was on Thursday morning and district manager Angie Ciccone said the store had been busy, and "we're expecting the weekend to be busy."

 

The store carries name and designer brand clothing for women, children and men, women's shoes, accessories and some home decor. Ciccone noted the space was double the size of the former location. 

 

"We are are thrilled to be a part of the North Adams community. We will continue to offer the most popular designer brands at the best possible price," said Kathy Boedecker, director of operations, via email. "We had the opportunity to take over the old Gordman's space in Parkade Plaza and we seized it.