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The Plant Connector is opening on West Street in Pittsfield after holding a pop-up shop in the city over the holidays.

Plant Connector Opening Second Location in Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A North County plant shop is expanding to Pittsfield with a West Street location.

The Plant Connector recently announced its second location next to Thistle and Mirth following a pop-up on North Street over the holiday season. The shop is about a month away from opening, with a lease signed and staging underway.

Business owners Emilee Yawn and Bonnie Marks say the new location will be all about "plants, refills, and good times."

"Our 'inspo' is Victorian plant rooms where one can leisurely read, play cards, a place one can just enjoy living with plants," a Facebook post reads.

"Somehow we'll combine this with a feel-good space where community wants to join in creating:making: plant sharing and refillin'. We're also hoping to share this space with monthly art shows and popup vintage sellers (going back to our Eagle St. roots, which we've missed so much.)"


Inspiration photos on the post include moody but ethereal Victorian plant rooms as well as modern takes on the aesthetic.

Yawn and Marks opened the original location on historic Eagle Street in North Adams in 2020. Within two years, the shop outgrew the Eagle Street storefront and moved to a larger location on Main Street.

They offer classes and workshops, residential and commercial plant care, and sell various plants and related merchandise. They also offer personal and cleaning products that are green, sustainable and refillable.

The plant shop's new location is in the former expansion of Thistle and Mirth. Following a violent incident on Thanksgiving Eve, the bar and restaurant rebranded, reducing the footprint to the "old Mirth" on McKay Street, installing a pizza oven, emphasizing games and artsy community events, focusing on well-curated craft beer, and having earlier hours.

After more than a decade in business, Thistle expanded into the adjacent former print shop at 46 West St. in 2021 to offer a ramen menu and more seating. The light-filled space was filled with plants while it operated under this use, foreshadowing its future.


Tags: business changes,   plants,   

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Companion Corner: Princess at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There is an energetic girl waiting to find her new home at the Berkshire Humane Society.

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

Princess is a six year old shepherd mix that has been at the shelter for just over a month.

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

"She's very social, very friendly. When you're out walking her, she just wants to go say hi to every single new person. Loves to make new friends. She's a lot of fun. She's very active. She's very spunky. She's very playful, and she's going to need a very very active family who's going to do a lot with her." 

But Princess is no stranger to the shelter. She was a puppy five years ago and got adopted quickly, but now she needs a new family to take care of her.

"She was adopted out fairly quickly as a young puppy. She's been in the same home for the past five years. Unfortunately, they were moving out of state somewhere," Olivieri said. "They could not take her with them, so she ended up coming as a return to shelter, and she came back to stay with us."

Princess needs to go to a home as the only animal or with other male dogs that are her size or bigger.

"Her perfect home would be kids eight and up. No cats. No small animals. She has quite a prey drive. She could go to a home with another dog around her size or larger, preferably a male dog. She does a little bit better with male dogs, and she's looking for a home where people are home quite a bit, so that she's not left alone for too long. She has some separation anxiety," Olivieri said. 

She also needs a very active home that can let her use her energy every day, as she is very rambunctious. Especially with playing with her favorite toy, the flirt pole.

"She could use a home where people are going to give her a lot of attention and more than just a few walks a day; she's going to need lots of exercise, lots of playtime, lots of mental stimulation," Olivieri said. "She likes to learn, so someone who would be willing to take her to training classes or work on some training with her, as well as hikes, getting out and about, doing new things, different things. She is very athletic. She'd excel at things like agility, some dog sports. Just someone who is really going to want to engage and do a lot of different kinds of activities with her." 

Once you let her get her energy out, she is a cuddler who wouldn't mind being held like a baby from time to time.

"She's very sweet. She's very cuddly. She's very affectionate, but she is not a couch potato. She will stay on that couch with you for a little bit, and then she's ready to go off and do something else. So she's very busy. She's very active," Olivieri said. "Once all of her exercise needs are met during the day, she will settle down nicely, and she will want to be right by your side, cuddle with you at night on the couch, sleep with you."

Princess is very healthy but does experience some anxiety and is not fully potty trained and might have the occasional accident.

"She does have a little bit of anxiety, so she is on some medication for it right now," Olivieri said. "So a lot of structure, a lot of outlets, and familiarity, getting used to a new routine and everything is gonna be really good for her. I mean, she's just lovely. Like I said, she's very social. She likes to play with other dogs. She likes to meet new people."

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