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Dottie's Coffee on North Street is expanding into the adjacent Mission Bar, which closed last fall.

Dottie's Plans Expansion to Former Mission Bar and Tapas

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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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.


Mission closed last fall after 15 years in business.

It was known for having regular music — often jazz — as well as its unique menu offerings and cozy atmosphere. Originally opened by Jenny Benson in 2007, it was bought by Mill Town Capital during the pandemic.

Abutters have been notified of the construction that will occur to connect the two spaces and will need a certificate of inspection due to the increased capacity.

Chairman Thomas Campoli said he understands Dottie's is a "wild successful business."

The board also approved a change of stock interest for Crossroads Cafe on Onota Street as well as an application from Zuke's Soups and Variety LLC, doing business as Bei Tempi, for the transfer of license, pledge of inventory, and pledge of license from C.T. Colvin Inc. doing business as Crossroads Cafe.

Manager Elizbeth Zucco said they plan to make some interior changes to be more suitable for dining.

There is also a name change proposed.

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


Tags: license board,   business changes,   

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Companion Corner: Fox at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a sweet and energetic dog at the Berkshire Humane Society waiting for his new family.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Fox is a 3-year-old Pomeranian who has been at the shelter for about a month.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Fox. 

"He's a bundle of joy. He would love a family who's home with him a lot, because he's just, he's very social and wants to be with his people a lot. And he would be fun to bring out and about, bring a lot of places, because he's very happy to go anywhere," she said.

When Fox enters the room he is immediately a puffball of energy that goes around and around the room.

He came to the shelter after his former owner could not take care of him anymore. 

"The owner was just not able to care for him anymore. Had he came in with another dog, Wolf, and she already did find her forever home just last week," said Olivieri. "The two of them were left with a friend of the original owner, and the owner did not come back to pick them up, and the friend had too many animals in the house, and too much going on, and she just couldn't continue to look after them, so they did end up coming to us."

Fox can go home with cats and children but is not recommended to go home with other dogs as he gets too excited.

"He would love a home where people are home quite a bit to give him all the attention that he so desires. He loves kids. He absolutely adores children. So he would like a home with kids to play with. He could live with cats. We are saying that he should not live with other dogs. The only reason is that he gets very humpy, and he does not leave the other dogs alone," she said.

With his energy it is recommended he goes to a home that can keep him active whether walks or hikes and even fetch in the yard.

Fox does need to learn more about walking on a leash and has a tendency to mark in the house but he was recently neutered. Olivieri said belly bands will be sent home with whoever adopts him to help prevent marking and managing it.

"He would like an active home. He really does like to go for walks daily. He likes to run around in the yard. He does need a little work on leash walking. He sometimes gets a little tangled still under your feet, and he's learning how to walk on a leash," she said. "So, someone who's got some patience and some time to work on some training with him."

"He also is not fully potty trained, so he does know to go potty outside. However, he will still mark, urinate in the house sometimes, and he might poop here and there in the house."

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