NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry is moving into the former Aubuchon Hardware site on Union Street, tripling its space.

 

The Planning Board on Monday unanimously approved the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative's application to relocate to the store's warehouse from Eagle Street, where it has operated for 13 years. 

 

Aubuchon closed last fall after 36 years in the city.

 

The initiative says the food pantry is the largest in North Berkshire and serves an average of 123 households across Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, North Adams and Savoy. There are no eligibility requirements. In addition to food, the Friendship Center provides diapers, books and provides space for community agencies to do outreach on pantry days.

 

The pantry's current location at 45 Eagle St. is 1,200-square-foot space and it's been utilizing the Eagle Street Room of First Baptist Church for sign-ins. In contrast, the former hardware store has 3,500-square-foot space on the first floor of the north end, which will enable the food pantry to conduct both sign-ins of guests and distribution in one site, a longtime goal. It does not include the storefront section of the building. 

 

Pantry officials say both properties are owned by Skip Barry (the Union Street property is listed as being owned by Guity Valizadeh and Natalie Barry since 2019). The new location will need to undergo renovations before it can open.

 

The food pantry started operating in February 2011 in a 720-square-foot space at 43 Eagle St. then moved next door in May 2015.

 

In addition to consolidating the entire food distribution process in one site, the larger facility would allow for office space, room for more services, and more room for food storage. The all-volunteer organization plans to conduct a capital campaign to fund its investment.

 

Board member Lisa Blackmer said her office is directly across the street from the new location and she saw no problems with traffic, since most of it would occur during limited times of operation compared to the hardware store. 

 

"I agree, if you can pull it off on Eagle Street without people noticing, I'm pretty sure the parking on Union Street is going to be a breeze," said member Kyle Hanlon. 

 

Lois Daunis, president of the pantry's board of directors, said the building will require significant renovations before the pantry can move. 

 

"We have had numerous meetings with Skip to outline our needs and concerns regarding the warehouse," she wrote in the application's narrative. "We also had an independent contractor do a walk-through with Skip and report back to the pantry board of directors."

 

Building Inspector William Meranti agreed with the board it was a good spot, but "there are issues with the building not that dissimilar to what happened on Eagle Street," he said, referring to the Barry-owned 19 Eagle St., the former Moderne Studios, which had to be demolished.

 

In answer to questions about trash receptacles, food coordinator Rich Davis said it would be up to the landlord but the pantry generates little trash. Goodwill delivers food from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and takes away the cardboard, he said. 

 

The board also approved special permit applications for short-term rental units for Enasin LLC for property located at 17 Forrest St. and for Yina Moore for property located at 23 Eagle St.