Dottie's Coffee Lounge in Pittsfield is For Sale

Dottie's owner Jessica Rufo poses in this iBerkshires file photo.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dottie's Coffee Lounge is listed for sale after nearly two decades in business. 

The business announced the news on social media on Thursday. Listed by Carrie Lobovits Wright of William Pitt Sotheby's Lenox office, the business at 438/444 North St. is for sale for $550,000 and includes the coffee shop as well as Dorothy's Estaminet in the former Mission Bar and Tapas. 

It stipulates that the sale is for the business and fixtures only and does not include real estate. The coffeeshop had expanded into abutting spaces over the years. 
 
"Seeking someone so special and so passionate to take over my first love, my first baby… my gift to this world….," a post on the Dottie's Facebook Page reads. 

Owner Jessica Rufo opened the coffee shop in 2007 to bring New York City-style coffee to the community. 
 
Both the shop and restaurant are named after her late grandmother, Dorothy "Dottie" Rufo, who passed away in 2019. Naming the space after her grandmother was a way to show her gratitude for her grandparents' help, plus she liked the way "Dottie's" sounded, she's said in the past.

The coffeeshop has been an anchor for food and entertainment on North Street and a frequent campaign stop for state and federal politicians and candidates over the years, such as U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, Quentin Palfrey, Martha Coakley, and Shannon Liss-Reardon.

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.