Rumors Brewing About Cup & Saucer

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:19PM / Wednesday, December 30, 2009Print Story | Email Story

The Cup & Saucer on Main Street was unexpectedly closed on Sunday morning. The sign showed up later.

Update: According to the North Adams Transcript on Tuesday, Jan. 5, the coffee shop is closed for good. The paper reports that Lester dropped off his keys to landlord Scarafoni Realty last week. Calls and e-mails left for Lester have gone unanswered.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Has the Cup & Saucer poured its last latte? That's what its loyal patrons are wondering.

The now iconic coffeehouse at 67 Main St. owned by Daniel Lester closed abruptly over the weekend, leaving a state senator and local coffee lovers out in the cold.

Scott Brown, a Wrentham Republican, was scheduled to make an appearance Sunday morning at the restaurant, despite it being covered with placards touting his Democratic rival for U.S. Senate, native daughter Martha Coakley.

But Brown was a no-show and the Cup & Saucer was closed. A number of patrons tried to scurry in out of the drizzly rain only to find their way blocked by the locked door and loyal customers made their way to the Hub and BrewHaHa for their morning joe.

A family situation or emergency was the word being passed around Sunday morning, but four mornings have gone by with no sign of the Cup & Saucer reopening with the exception of a simple sign on the door: "The cup will be closed temporarily."

Messages left for Lester have not yet been returned and no notices are posted on the restaurant's Web site or Facebook and MySpace pages.

David Carver of Scarafoni Associates, which owns the coffee shop building at the corner of Main and Holden, said he didn't know why the Cup was closed but he had been "working" with Lester.

"If he opens back up again that's wonderful," said Carver, adding it was a good location that's had more than one successful business. "We expect it to continue to be a wonderful place for a coffee shop ... It will all work out."

The spot had previously housed the Appalachian Bean for eight years until then owner Audrey Witter changed careers and went into teaching. Lester opened the business in 2006 with a partner, Mark Florcyczk, who left a year later. Florcyczk is now an owner of the Verizon Wireless store on Main Street.

Lester recently paid off a state meals tax lien of $12,132 incurred in 2006, according to state land records.

Over the past year, the restaurant became a central meeting point in the city election and was covered with candidate's signs. Lester was big supporter of Mayor-elect Richard Alcombright, whose green T-shirted campaign volunteers frequented the shop. Coakley's only stop in North Adams so far during the special election for Senate was the Cup & Saucer.

If anyone has more information on the Cup's fate or a better way to contact Lester, post your comments here or e-mail us at info@iberkshires.com.

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Your Comments

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I heard Dan was abducted by aliens, but will return soon.
from: rumormill	on: 12-31-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I in fact did show up and try to grab a coffee, but the place was closed. No worries, went to many other places in the area. Happy New Year. Sen. Brown
from: Sen. Brown	on: 01-01-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I tried to have breakfast at the Cup & Saucer a couple of times this summer. In spite of their stated opening time of 6 AM-ish, at 8 AM-ish they were not open and my husband and I went elsewhere to eat.
from: vtgirl	on: 01-01-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Dan, you are in our thoughts - we miss you and hope all is well. Looking forward to seeing you soon at the Cup!
from: Hestia	on: 01-03-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I've heard from a very highly placed source that this is not a rumor. Cup & Saucer, sadly, is closing or has closed for good. Another victim of a bait and switch rent price from Scarafoni Realty. Get them in with a nice low rent, then in one fell swoop jump the rent by more than double. Elf Parlor is not far behind. I guess North Adams can't keep a good coffee shop around, except for BrewHaHa. Elf Parlor had hoped for a good crowd from MCLA, but the college openly encourages the students to spend their food money on campus.
from: not a rumor	on: 01-04-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I heard from the landlord that it was a surprise to them that The Cup closed it's doors. Since then, the locks have been changed and entry is only permitted by contacting Scarafoni Realty. I would be willing to say that it has more to do with poor money management and less with doubled rent....
from: Main Street Lover	on: 01-04-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Could it have anything to do with Mr. Lester not paying his taxes?
from: In The Know	on: 01-04-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

This is sad. I hope Dan issues a statement as to what is going on. Also, what is he going to do about the gift certificates that he sold over the holidays.....?
from: Annoyed	on: 01-05-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Where's the bailout help for small businesses? Dan is an grossly talented hardworking dude. We need to support those like him, its how anything ever gets done in this world. Come on North Adams!!!
from: elfparlor	on: 01-06-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Ex-Veterans Clerk Ordered to Pay Restitution, Complete Community Service

Staff Reports09:19AM / Thursday, October 15, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city's former veterans services administrative assistant, Tina Samson, was ordered to pay $2,184.76 in restitution and complete 700 hours of community service.

Samson, 66, was charged with a single count of larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme for using gift cards donated to Veterans Services for personal use, the Berkshire Eagle originally reported on Oct. 13.

Her larceny case was continued without a finding on Friday, Oct. 19. Samson must pay the restitution and complete her community service by October 2028.

Samson was arraigned in July on larceny charges related to the theft of gift cards donated for local veterans. She pleaded not guilty.

City officials became suspicious when they learned that Samson had been stopped in Walmart for allegedly trying to shoplift about $200 worth of merchandise. According to the police report, Samson told store management she worked in Veterans Services and was taking items to support them. Walmart trespassed her from the property but did not press charges.

City officials noticed discrepancies in accounting for gift cards donated to or purchased for the Veterans Services Office and contacted Walmart Asset Protection about four e-gift cards totaling $575 mailed to Samson's city account last year.

The cards were loaded into Samson's personal Walmart account, according to the police, and used for clothing, groceries, and cash. In one instance, clothing ordered online was shipped to Samson's home address.

A police investigation was launched Jan. 13 into the Veterans Services Office, where Samson had worked for 12 years before retiring in December, and a search warrant was issued for the Walmart account connected to her personal email.

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