RJ's Taking Over Hotel on North Restaurant

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The owners of a well-received city eatery are taking over a shuttered North Street spot.  

The Licensing Board approved a change of manager and transfer of liquor license from Berkshire Palate to J&D Reyes Restaurant Entertainment, the owners of RJ's Restaurant on First Street.

The space is located at 297 North St. within Hotel on North and formerly housed Berkshire Palate's second location. Jose and David Reyes say they will manage the two restaurants simultaneously, as they are nearby.

"I know that Jose has had a real presence at RJ's," Chairman Thomas Campoli said.

The proprietors' lawyer pointed out that in three years of business, they have kept steady business and stayed out of trouble by not over-serving, having police involvement, or coming before the Licensing Board for a show cause hearing.

"Between the two of them, they do a wonderful job juggling the current restaurant that they have, which is very busy," she said.

"And I think as you have all — many people in the county have seen — they've done a tremendous job with that location specifically in creating what they have created."

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.