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New owner Carol Donahue hopes to reopen the Coyote Den by June 21.

Coyote Den In Lanesborough Sold

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Ownership of the Coyote Den on Main Street has switched hands.

Carol Donahue, the owner of Casey's Billiards, finalized the purchase Tuesday and intends to operate it  in a similar fashion once permitting and inspections are complete. Donahue said Tuesday that she aims to reopen with mostly the same staff on June 21.

"I went down to check it out and fell in love with the place. I've been wanting a restaurant for years," Donahue said. "I'm looking to run it about the same [way that the previous owner did]."

Donahue said all but two members of the staff agreed to return under the new ownership. The restaurant will continue its popular karaoke and trivia nights and the new owner said she would like to bring in more free musical acts to highlight the nights. The Coyote Den will continue its pizza delivery service as well.

"It's a pretty turnkey operation," Donahue said. "It's a beautiful building and the staff was wonderful."

While the menu items will remain, Donahue said she saw opportunities to raise the food's quality while keeping prices affordable. She also plans to introduce lunch and dinner specials.

Previous owner Keith Randall said Tuesday that he put the buisiness up for sale because he is moving out of state to pursue other business opportunities. The den was the last piece he needed out of his hands before moving, he said.

"I'm moving to Florida ... I sold my house and I have other opportunities down there," Randall said Tuesday.


Randall advertised the business — including all of the inventory and equipment — for $40,000 but Donahue said she was able to talk him down a little bit.

"It was a short transaction," Donahue said. "It went very smoothly."

Donahue said she will reopen after the permits and inspections are complete and close at 9 p.m. until her liquor license is approved. She said she does not foresee any problems with the permits. Donahue is in good standing with her current liquor license at Casey's Billiards, she said.

Once approved, the restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. until midnight on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday and from 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For now, it will be closed on Mondays.

"I'm buying the sports package so I want to be open on Mondays when it's football season," Donahue said. "Then we will be open seven days."

Donahue said she is amazed at the support she is already receiving and said that many of the den's regulars have stopped in at Casey's Billiards to meet her.

Tags: Casey's,   Coyote Den,   

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Berkshire Towns Can Tap State Seasonal Communities Resources

BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey announced that 18 additional municipalities across Massachusetts have been designated as Seasonal Communities, opening up new tools, support and grant funding to help them manage seasonal housing pressures. 
 
Created as part of the historic Affordable Homes Act signed into law by Governor Healey in 2024, the Seasonal Communities designation was designed to recognize Massachusetts communities that experience substantial variation in seasonal employment and to create distinctive tools to address their unique housing needs. The law also established the Seasonal Communities Advisory Council (SCAC).  
 
The Affordable Homes Act identified several communities to automatically receive the designation, including:   
  • All municipalities in the counties of Dukes and Nantucket;   
  • All municipalities with over 35 percent seasonal housing units in Barnstable County; and   
  • All municipalities with more than 40 percent seasonal housing units in Berkshire County. 
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To identify additional communities, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) reviewed available data, specifically focusing on cities and towns with high levels of short-term rentals and a high share of second- or vacation homes.
 
In Berkshire County, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, New Marlborough, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, West Stockbridge and Williamstown have been designated. 
 
"Our seasonal communities are a vital part of Massachusetts' cultural and economic fabric, but they're also home to essential workers, families, seniors, and longtime residents who deserve a place to live year-round," said Governor Healey. "That's why we're committed to supporting these communities with innovative solutions like the Seasonal Communities designation to meet their unique needs, and I'm thrilled that we're offering this opportunity to 18 additional communities across the state. Everyone who calls these places home should be able to live, work and grow here, no matter the season." 
 
As with the statutorily identified communities, acceptance of the designation for municipalities is voluntary and requires a local legislative vote. HLC will open an application for newly eligible communities that haven't accepted the Seasonal Communities designation to request consideration. 
 
The Affordable Homes Act created several new tools for communities who accept the Seasonal Communities designation to be able to:  
  • Acquire deed restrictions to create or preserve year-round housing 
  • Develop housing with a preference for municipal workers, so that our public safety personnel, teachers, public works and town hall workers have a place to live 
  • Establish a Year-Round Housing Trust Fund to create and preserve affordable and attainable housing for year-round residents 
  • Create year-round housing for artists 
  • Allow seasonal communities to develop a comprehensive housing needs assessment 
  • Permit tiny homes to be built and used as year-round housing 
  • Permit year-round, attainable residential development on undersized lots 
  • Increase the property tax exemption for homes that are the owners' primary residence 
 
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