image description — The Break Room opened in Greylock Works during the pandemic.

Updated September 06, 2024 08:20AM

The Break Room at Greylock Works Will Not Reopen

Staff Reports 10:33AM / Thursday, September 05, 2024Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— According to a statement released by Break Room Chef and Co-owner Brian Alberg, the restaurant will not reopen after an extended Labor Day break.

"The diversity of the arts and the ever-growing culinary scene of North County is awesome. I'm so proud to have been a founding partner in the culinary program at Greylock WORKS - a project that has become an anchor and destination for the Northern Berkshires," he wrote. "I wish the very best for their continued growth and welcome the next chef to be lucky enough to work in such an incredible place."

The Break Room LLC was permitted by the North Adams Planning Board in 2020 as a joint venture between Greylock Works, owned by Salvatore Perry and Karla Rothstein, and Main Street Hospitality Group, which operates the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge among other eateries and hospitality offerings in Berkshire County and beyond. On Friday morning, Main Street's "chief development and brand officer" reached out to say that business is not a partner in the Break Room.

"Opening the Break Room at Greylock WORKS during the Pandemic was simultaneously the biggest challenge and the most life-affirming experience," Alberg said. "Customers still speak of the joy that our food and our staff brought to their lives as they slowly ventured out in the Berkshires. We all share a commitment to this region, and our team has loved creating top-notch food and memorable experiences in this tight-knit community."

The Break Room originally announced that they would be closed from Sept. 9 through Sept. 15. Thursday, Alberg announced this would not be the case.

Alberg did not give a specific reason for the closure but wrote that he now has the opportunity to "make more space to be with family and friends, and plan my next chapter."

"When I started working in kitchens at 14, my passion for putting out great food supported by a community of farmers, purveyors and guests was born," he said. "The business of food is intense, and I've had the honor to work with an incredible group of people. More than four decades later, my passion burns just as strong."

He did tease that there are "exciting openings" planned on the Greylock Works Campus.

Tags: greylock works,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

Greylock's Gift to You

Double points on gas, groceries and more. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Western Mass Arts Summit Focuses on Economics, Sustainability

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
06:36AM / Saturday, November 15, 2025

State Sen. Paul Mark, Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, hosted the event to bring together creatives and state agencies to talk collaboration and support.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — More than 100 stakeholders in the creative economy spent an afternoon sharing ideas, stories and strategies for sustaining the state's cultural identity.

The Western Massachusetts Arts Economic Impact Summit brought creatives from the nonprofit, for-profit and governmental worlds together at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts to talk housing, energy, grants and funding, training and retaining, partnerships and sustaining.

Belchertown Select Board member Jennifer Turner came to North Adams to hear what other communities are doing to sustain their creative development. Her town had built a strong foundation for arts and culture as an economic driver but is struggling as it's run out of resources.

"We've been using a lot of ARPA funding to fund a lot of initiatives, and we use our volunteer economy mostly, but a lot of them are getting burnt out," she said. "So it's always trying to come up with a different alternative."

She found like-minded people and is going home with "tons of ideas."

"Just networking and talking to others about the struggles that they're finding in their organizations, whether it be municipality or other," said Turner. "There was somebody who brought up a civic leadership transitional program in the city of Lowell, which is very interesting. For me, that's like a key takeaway, you know, to look into models that are existing across the state, that are working."

That's what state Sen. Paul Mark hoped would happen. The Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development pushed for the summit after speaking with people from Western Mass during a Creative Economy Day at the State House and with local artists.

View Full Story