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Chipotle Opens in Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoPrint Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass.-

There is a new taco in town.

Chipotle Mexican Grill opened in Taco Bell's former location in Berkshire Crossing on Thursday. To mark the occasion, the first 50 people in line received merchandise from the chain restaurant.

Shortly after its doors opened, the eatery was buzzing with customers.

"We have received great feedback from other Chipotle locations surrounding the area and think Pittsfield’s burrito fan would be thrilled to have their own Chipotle location," Spokesperson Sally Evans said.

Along with a modern renovation of the building, there is a "Chipotlane" drive-thru lane that allows customers to retrieve digital orders from their cars.

There is now a variety of Mexican-inspired choices in the area, as Taco Bell built a new location across the street on Dalton Avenue.


About a year ago, the Conservation Commission approved a notice of intent from Chipotle for the proposed redevelopment of the former Taco Bell that was built in the 1980s.

It was reported that the site would remain "relatively unchanged" with aesthetic changes but no alternation in square footage and some infrastructure improvements were proposed.

Chipotle is a fast, casual dining eatery that specializes in bowls, tacos, burritos, and salads made in front of the customer. The chain prides itself on using no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives and serving fresh food.

The location is still hiring and plans to employ around 25 people.  Benefits include a debt-free college degree program, access to healthcare, and vacation and sick time.

It is open every day from 10:45 a.m to 10 p.m.


Tags: Berkshire Crossing,   Chipotle,   

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ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Great news, Kyzer and Cali found a home for Christmas already! Still looking for a new friend for the holidays? There are plenty of dogs and cats and small animals at Berkshire Humane who would love to go home with you.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.

Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.

"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.

The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.

"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."

The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.

"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.

The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.

"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."

Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.

"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."

The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.

"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.

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