On Feb. 1, Daniel and Lorraine Miller of Great Barrington bought the 25-year-old business on Housatonic Street, in Lenox. The weekly bread menu over the counter and the array of muffins, pastries, cakes, tarts, cookies, bars, tea loaves, turnovers, pies, biscotti and home-baked dog biscuits will stay the same as the Millers get into the routine of running the bakery, said Beth Burks, who works there.
Daniel and Lorraine have not run a bakery before, but they have spent many active years in Berkshire County since they moved here from Danbury, Conn., in 1959. They bought an old farmhouse and raised five children there. They ran the Great Barrington Dairy Queen from 1978 to 1983, in Belcher Square. Elise Abrams Antiques has taken over the spot now, but Lorraine said people may remember her and Daniel from the Dairy Queen. Every now and then, someone comes up to tell them, “Oh, I wish the Dairy Queen was back!†The Millers kept a bed-and-breakfast in Alford from 1988-1996. Daniel has spent some time on a dude ranch. They also have 13 grandchildren. They like to keep busy, Lorraine said, which is why they bought the bakery.
Daniel will work at the bakery. “I may visit occasionally,†Lorraine said. She is doing the paperwork at home. “And I’m learning the computer,†she said, “which I never thought would happen.†She and Dan plan to keep the arrangement of three full-time and several part-time workers at the bakery. As Burks describes it, the bakery has a bread person, an early-morning person, a cake person and two everything-else people. Burks helps the cake baker, sets up for the early morning baker and does a little of everything.
Starting the first weekend in March, the bakery will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. The Millers plan to change very little else in the workings of the bakery. They will still make every Danish, croissant and scone from scratch. They are giving the staff some leeway with recipes, but they will continue to use natural ingredients. Lorraine said this aspect of baking especially appealed to her, because the Millers have been trying to eat organically for 25 years.
January is a traditionally slow month for business; it has always been experimentation month at Suchele’s, Burks said. They have already tried new muffins, breads, tea loaf, and tarts this year.
She said the Millers are more relaxed about experimenting than the previous owners. The bakers have brought in magazines and tried new recipes. The Millers appreciate and support the staff, Burks said. “They are retired but by no means sitting around.â€
The bakery specializes in cakes and wedding cakes. They also supply wholesale to local businesses, including Guido’s. “The demand for wedding cakes especially is going up,†Lorraine said. Business at Suchele’s is intense in summer holidays. The bakery fills quickly even on winter afternoons, with people stopping in for scones and coffee or taking home rosemary garlic loaves for dinner. The bakers work in a small space, 1,000 square feet, but a venerable one. Burks believes the building is more than 100 years old. The French country wall paper, the floors and the tin ceilings are original, said Lorraine. The large marble table will stay in view, so passersby can watch the bakers rolling pie dough and crimping the crust around the pie plates.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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