Pittsfield's Thistle & Mirth Moving Ramen Menu to Sister Eatery
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The future of a West Street bar and eatery is unclear after a stabbing last week but its ramen menu will prevail at a sister restaurant.
On Tuesday, Thistle and Mirth announced on Facebook that its noodle dishes will be offered at Lulu's Tiny Grocery starting Thursday. Lulu's, located inside Crawford Square on North Street, was opened as a breakfast and lunch spot last year.
Joad Bowman and Austin Oliver own both downtown Pittsfield establishments.
"This move will not only allow us to continue our ramen menu, but we will be able to expand our offerings, as well as offer boba," the post read.
Thistle's ramen menu will be available from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday while Lulu's is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
While Lulu's is newer, Thistle opened over a decade ago as a later-night spot and expanded into a ramen restaurant a couple of years ago.
Over the past year, there have been two stabbing instances at Thistle — one last week that resulted in its closing "until further notice." On Thanksgiving Eve, a man showed up at Berkshire Medical Center after being stabbed at the bar.
Police responded around 9:40 p.m. and found evidence of a stabbing but not the victim. A large number of patrons were exiting the venue upon arrival, police said. The bar was shut down and the area around West and McKay closed off as police investigated the incident.
On Thanksgiving, the owners posted on Facebook saying they were "thankful for all of the friends we've found, the connections we've made, and the overwhelming positivity for almost the entire life of our business." It was announced that the doors would be closed until further notice.
Thistle and Mirth's original intent was to create a place that welcomes any and everyone, they wrote, a space where people could be creative and encourage connecting with others whether they know them or not.
Since the pandemic, the owners have seen an increasing problem with the city's nightlife and said they do not condone this behavior.
"We love the bar, restaurant, and hospitality industry because it gives us the opportunity to be a positive moment in someone's day and to make our community better," the post read.
"We did not get into the industry to be involved in the type of events that occurred on Wednesday. A problem within Pittsfield nightlife that has been increasing since the pandemic."
Earlier this year, the Licensing Board cleared the establishment of any wrongdoing after a January incident that involved a stabbing and a window being broken. It was concluded that the fight was not a result of overserving or overcapacity and that staff responded appropriately by calling the police and clearing the bar.
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