The Ranch Opens in North Adams With New Owners, New Offerings
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Ranch is doing well after opening at the end of January, according to owner John-Michael Bradbury.
Bradbury purchased the 310 State St. restaurant, previously known as the Hot Dog Ranch, last August with the help of business partners Mitchell Bresett, Christopher St. Cyr and Jason Koperniak, reopening the doors on Jan. 27. Bradbury said business has been good so far, noting the restaurant has consistently been near capacity, especially during the Super Bowl on Sunday.
"We've been pretty busy. It's been steady. Even on the slow days, it's been steady," Bradbury said. "Definitely a lunch place. A lot of people during the week come here for lunch."
While the menu and much of the staff have changed under the new ownership, Bradbury said he wanted to keep most of the restaurant intact. He said he's seen several regulars come back since the reopening.
"We weren't trying to change anything," he said. "We change the menu around a little bit but, as far as the atmosphere, there's no reason to change anything. It was working before."
One significant difference, according to Bradbury, is the kitchen is using more fresh food and making more things from scratch. Other requested items such as wraps and sandwiches have been added, which Bradbury said have been popular picks among customers.
"[The previous owner] had seven freezers here. We use three of them now," he said. "The fried foods, the frozen foods; we're not doing as much. There's more fresh stuff."
Bradbury said community feedback has been good so far. He said all the feedback he has gotten so far, both in person and on social media, has been positive.
"Everyone was patient when we first opened up. And now everything is really smooth. We got people in place that know what they're doing," he said.
While he has some experience working in a restaurant, Bradbury said this is his first time owning one. He credited Mark Mills, manager at the Pittsfield Hot Dog Ranch, his staff and several others for helping with the transition.
"It's not really like [Mark Mills] is a competitor because they're down in Pittsfield. It's the Hot Dog Ranch and the old owners he works for," he said. "He still has no problems giving me advice and all that good stuff. I've known him my whole life. I give him a call and I don't know something; I can't figure something out and he's there in seconds."
One challenge for the restaurant so far has been supply-chain-related issues, with the restaurant running out of hot dogs at one point during the first week after reopening. Bradbury said it is an issue they have been trying to keep an eye on.
"When the supply is there, you just order as much as you possibly can so you don't run out," he said. "We're working with multiple distributors now. And whatever one can get us our products, that's what we go with."
Bradbury said one thing he hopes to do soon is coordinate and work with other local businesses. He said foot traffic from downtown should be much more significant once the winter weather subsides.
"When it's negative degrees outside, who the heck wants to go outside, get their cars and come here? Most people want to stay inside," he said.
The Ranch is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
Tags: new business, restaurants,
