After more than a century, Martin's will call it quits

By Mark E. Rondeau12:00AM / Friday, June 06, 2003Print Story | Email Story

Inside a store with papered-over windows, two sad but friendly people spoke with the press Monday morning and announced the end of an era. After 101 years and three generations of family, Eileen Clark, owner of Martin's Shoe Store, at 81 Main St. in North Adams, announced the store's closing. With her was her father, John "Jack" Dempsey, who passed ownership of Martin's to his daughter in 1993. Clark said it was extremely difficult to make the decision. "Very difficult. We took a couple of months of really looking at every option before we had to come to a final decision," she said. "It's been a couple of years of change...that's just accumulated to this final point. Less traffic. Sales dropping, slowly, but adding up over the course of a couple of years. "And just looking at the point of where are we now and how much further can we go, and finally deciding that we don't see any bright light at the end of the tunnel, so it's time to just say, 'It's the time to close.' " She said that Main Streets have definitely changed. "There are not a lot of small cities like this that have footwear, clothing, that type of ready-to-wear on the street anymore," she said. "All of that seems to have moved to the malls, the shopping centers, and Main Streets generally tend more little nichey stores, little gift shops and that type of product available for the people that do come down onto the streets." And though MASS MoCA does attract more people to the city, very few people buy shoes when they travel as tourists, Clark and Dempsey said in response to a question on whether the opening of the museum in the city several years ago had any impact on business. Dempsey said that the shoe business had changed from on the wholesale as well as the retail level. "The closeness isn't there anymore with the manufacturer and the retailer," he said. "All they're interested in is getting merchandise out and hope you pay your bills." Dempsey agreed with the statement that young people today are more oriented to shopping in malls. "Without question, and it's understandable," he said. "Just a simple example, a young fellow could come in here and want a pair of Nike sneakers. We've probably got 15 or 18-20 different styles. They'll go down the mall [and] see double or triple that. We just can't compete with that. "And then get the sale merchandising. They get 15 percent off of this, and if you come in on Saturdays another 25 percent off of that," Dempsey said. "They're selling them for less than what we paid for them." Clark is looking at Martin's closing sale to last from tomorrow to May 31, or perhaps even to June 14, depending on circumstances. Both Clark and Dempsey wanted to express their thanks and appreciation to the customers who have stuck with them through the years. "We have always felt a special bond with our customers and an obligation to be here to outfit them. Generations of families have passed through our doors and this is not an easy thing to give up. Times do change, and not all change is good, at least not on the personal level," states a press release announcing the closing. "We are a family store sustained by families. Who could have asked for more? We will miss our friends and colleagues on Main Street, but the time has come to move on." Established in 1902 by James Martin, Martin's Shoe Store was acquired by Matthew Dempsey, Clark's grandfather, in 1938. He successfully ran the business, located at 20 Holden Street, for 20 years. Jack Dempsey started working for his father at age 15 and took over running the family business in 1958 when he left the Army. Jack bought out his father in 1972 and continued until passing the business along to his daughter in 1993. Martin's moved to the Concourse at 85 Main Street in 1965, and moved to its current location fronting Main Street four years ago.

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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:57PM / Friday, December 19, 2025

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.) The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few. All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house. New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house. New paver patio in the back yard.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

What do the current owners love about this home?

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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