Dottie's Plans Expansion to Former Mission Bar and Tapas

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A North Street staple is expanding to the former Mission Bar and Tapas.

On Monday, the Licensing Board approved a transfer of premise, license, and pledge of license from On A Mission LLC to Dottie's Coffee LLC. Owner Jessica Rufo plans to reopen the eatery as "Dorothy's," an expansion of the business that is open later.

The wall between the two spaces will be taken down to allow access between them.

"Initially we're going to keep our regular hours from 7 a.m. until 2 o'clock then our hope once the liquor license transfers is that will be open later until 8 or 9 o'clock," Rufo said.

"Our current offerings at Dottie's, we do dinners occasionally with entertainment, but we're not sure that we're going to start that right away. It might be something that we grow into once we feel what this variation feels like."

Dottie's is open from 7 a.m. (8 a.m. on the weekends) until 2 p.m. and after that time, Dorothy's will offer a light dinner option.

Rufo opened the coffee lounge and eatery about 15 years ago. She also has experience working in the restaurant industry in New York City and has held a seasonal liquor license for at least one summer.

Crossroads had been open for more than 20 years and was a popular place for live music.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.