With New Owners, Teddy's Pizza is Business as Usual

Patrick Manning, left, Wil Bilis, Teddy and Susan Bilis, and new owners Jennifer and Mike Manning.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — One of the city's oldest eateries has changed hands to another local family but remains open and unchanged.

Teddy's Pizza Restaurant on East Street has been purchased by Mike Manning, who is continuing its 50-year legacy as the long-loved pizzeria and family restaurant everyone knows.

"I grew up eating lunch here while at Pittsfield High and that's kind of like a generational thing," he explained. "Everybody comes here, and here we are and we decided to give it a go."

He emphasized that it will be the "same exact menu, same exact recipes, everything stays the same."  On Monday, they were getting pizza training from the Bilis family, who opened Teddy's in 1974.

Manning and his wife, Jennifer, have a large family and one of their children, Patrick, will be working at Teddy's during the winter. The family owns three other businesses in the area including Patriot Driveway Inc. and will employ some pavers in the off-season.

"We're just really excited. Our kids all came through here and went to Pittsfield High and it's just iconic," Jennifer Manning said.

"We're excited to keep it going but we also have a lot to learn and these guys are being gracious and they're going to stay on and be a consult to us even after they're gone."

The new owners also plan to continue the tradition of supporting local sports teams.

There had reportedly been social media buzz wrongfully reporting that the East Street eatery was closing and the new owners wanted to clear the air, explaining that it has been a seamless handoff and the operation will not be affected.

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.