Elm Street Java House Under New Ownership of 'Billy J'
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Elm Street's coffeehouse is now under new ownership as "Billy J's Elm Street Java House."
Owner William Jones, known as "Billy J," is keeping the same spirit of the cafe alive with some new menu items.
"I bought it on Nov. 1 and was going to leave it as it was because everyone loved what was already there, all the sandwiches, the salads, the breakfast sandwiches, the muffins, the pastries," he said.
"So we'll leave it basically the same as it was, we've got some signature sandwiches on there. Nothing crazy."
The java house had a grand opening earlier this month and has been well received, he said. It offers regular lunch specials such as soup and sandwich deals with clam chowder and a soup of the day to choose from.
Jones describes the menu as having an upscale coffee shop vibe. Aside from the soup and sandwiches, there is an array of coffee drinks that range from a regular cup of joe to an americano or red eye, hot and cold drinks, breakfast, bakery items, and salads.
He said the bread is delivered fresh every day and the meats and cheeses are also fresh.
"It's a good atmosphere," Jones said. "It's a beautiful place."
The goal right now is to get the cafe back on its feet and, in the future, he sees adding fruit bowls and smoothies to the menu. In the new year, Doordash and online delivery will also be available.
Jones, who is originally from Fall River, has been in the Berkshires for about 20 years and also owns a plumbing business. His children's mother is the manager of the java house and was part of his reasoning for purchasing it, as he wanted to provide a career where she could work for herself for better wages.
Angela Borden owned the Elm Street Java House for around seven years after purchasing it from the Juice N' Java franchise. She closed the cafe in the fall before it was purchased by Jones.
Billy J's Elm Street Java House, located at 216 Elm St., is open every day from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and can be found on Facebook.
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