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The Burlington Store opens this Friday in Berkshire Crossing.

Burlington Store Debuts in Pittsfield on Friday

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new Burlington store will open in Berkshire Crossing later this week.  

During the morning ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Aug. 22, the store will present a $5,000 donation to teachers at Craneville Elementary for much-needed back-to-school supplies. Following the grand opening, the first 100 shoppers over the age of 18 will receive a $10 Bonus Card on Friday and Saturday. 

The discount retailer touts discounts of up to 60 percent off brand-name merchandise and regular new arrivals. 

News came that a new retail store was coming to the city earlier this year when the Zoning Board of Appeals approved a sign exemption for Burlington Stores, formerly Burlington Coat Factory. The space at 55 Hubbard Ave. was vacated by Staples in December after 30 years in business. 

"To celebrate the grand opening of their new store location and highlight their ongoing commitment to education, the retailer will be donating $5,000 to a nearby high-needs school through their long-standing partnership with the national non-profit organization AdoptAClassroom.org," a press release from Burlington Stores Inc. reads. 

"Funds will be used to provide students with classroom materials they need to learn and succeed.?The presentation of the donation to the local school community will take place at the ribbon-cutting ceremony." 

AdoptAClassroom helps offset the financial burden that teachers incur, often about $860 per year, to equip classrooms with the supplies needed for student success. The nonprofit has raised $73 million since 1998, and 90 percent of the funded classrooms are considered "high needs." 


"As a company who cares about their customers and associates, Burlington is dedicated to adding value to the communities in which they live and work. Throughout the year, Burlington supports a variety of philanthropic initiatives that empower those locally to live better lives and build brighter futures," the company wrote. 

Craneville Elementary, located in Dalton, has more than 450 students enrolled in Grades kindergarten through 5 from Dalton, Windsor and Cummington. It is part of the Central Berkshire Regional School District.

"With class sizes of approximately 20, we provide a variety of services including remedial reading, Title I, special education, speech and language, occupational therapy, and physical therapy," the school's website reads. 

"In our pursuit to develop well-rounded citizens, students enjoy art, music, PE, and library weekly.  Our children are taught by a highly-qualified staff in a nurturing environment." 

The Pittsfield store will bring the total number of Burlington locations in Massachusetts to 26; there are 1,115 stores nationwide with the closest in Holyoke and in Latham, N.Y. It will carry ladies' apparel, including petites and plus sizes, menswear with big and tall sizing options, kids' and juniors' apparel, baby items, footwear, beauty and fragrance, home decor, and pet care and toys. 

According to the company's website, four part-time positions are open for the Pittsfield location, offering a base pay of $15 per hour: retail stocking associate, retail shortage control, cashier associate, and retail sales associate. 

The Pittsfield location is said to feature a "reimagined" store layout that features "refreshed format, featuring thoughtfully organized aisles and bold signage making it easier than ever to navigate the store and get inspiration for the latest must-have trends." 

The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.  The grand opening on Friday will begin at 8:45 a.m. 


Tags: new business,   big box retailer,   grand opening,   

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Former Country Club Reopens as The Venue at Skyline

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The new Patty Barnaby's name is all over the venue. 

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A new but familiar space is opening for event rentals as The Venue at Skyline.

Patty Barnaby recently leased the former Skyline Country Club building at 405 South Main St. Barnaby used to attend events there, including holding her own "Jack and Jill" wedding shower.

"I've been to the golf tournaments. We've been to fundraisers. We've been to benefits. Actually, sports banquets for our girls, my oldest daughter. We had quite a few of her sports banquets here, just town events, truly, but our Jack and Jill was here," she said. "I had my stepfather's retirement party here, so, we've had a lot of events here as a family."

The golf course closed in 2021 after 58 years and sold to Mill Town Capital, which is using the course for a solar installation. The town's eyed the driving range for a new police station, and the club has been used intermittently, such as for the town's winter festival last year.

Barnaby is active in the community, including serving on the Lanesborough Community Development Committee. She enjoys hosting events and having get-togethers.

"I just have always loved to bring people together, like at our house, doing parties. And our house is very small, so it's always a big summer party," she said.

Barnaby wanted a place for people to host events that may be too big or busy for their homes, but also in an open and beautiful area.

"We need a space like this, not only in Lanesborough, for Lanesborough residents, but in general, for people to be able to come and have events, whether it be inside or outside when the weather permits," sshe said. "It's a beautiful spot, it really, truly is. And I didn't want to see it sit because it really is one of those staples in our town that everybody just knows."

Barnaby had indicated interest in the space after the Winter Festival. She signed the lease on Oct. 31 and has worked hard to make it her own.

She's painted, added new seating, redone the bathrooms, and some other cosmetics upgrades. She also added six televisions, more bar equipment, and will be adding a jukebox.

Barnaby kept the name Skyline because of the location's history and just added "The Venue" to make it her own.

"I just love this space. It is just one of those spaces that, like you don't want to see ever sit," she said.

The former pro shop will be turned into a thrift store. She currently sells clothes out of her house and hosting pop-up thrift events but is now excited to have a permanent space. It will have hours outside of events and will be listed on her social media page once it is ready. 

Barnaby is asking that vendors should reach out so that she can compile a list for those who want to host events. She is also looking for a food vendor to sublease the space.

"I would love to have people reach out to me as I have reached out to them, to be put on a list of like vendors that we can suggest to people that are coming up for events," she said.

Barnaby said she'll help with planning at the location and that she wants to create a comfortable and joyous environment that people would like to come back to.

"It's family friendly, like I am very community-oriented and being very family oriented, so I understand when you're trying to plan a birthday party, or you just need a space, or you're trying to put little details together. I want to be able to help with that," she said.

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