Pittsfield Licensing Board Puts Heat on Chili's

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:07AM / Friday, October 31, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In January, the Licensing Board will decide if it should start the six-month timer for Chili's to sell its liquor license before it is revoked.

The restaurant closed abruptly in August 2024 and has been looking for a buyer for over a year. Representatives have come before the board a few times with reports that there are interested parties, but no sale.

"The reason that we keep asking you the same old questions, and now it's well over a year after the place closed, is that under state law, if a licensee is not operating, then we have to turn up the heat to see if either the license can be transferred to somebody that will operate, or theoretically, Chili's could go back in and start operating with a license," Chair Thomas Campoli said.

The board will hear from a Chili's representative at the January meeting and discuss whether to begin the six months that the business has to reopen or sell its liquor license. The current lease agreement goes out to 2029, and the company, Pepper Dining Inc., is looking for another business to carry it out.

Director of Northeast Operations Allen Anderson reported that there are a few active buyers in the pipeline right now, but nothing has been solidified. It is his understanding that the intent is to sell what's left of the business, including the building contents and license.

"I talked to counsel this morning, and I think they were maybe re-evaluating what the price we're trying to get for the license and the business," he reported.

He was told that some potential buyers had dropped off, and there has been more recent interest.

Campoli explained that the board could vote on Chili's liquor license by the next meeting, starting the six-month timer, adding, "I mean, in particular, I don't want to do that, but that's what we could do." In Pittsfield, when a liquor license is revoked, that is one less license for the city.

"I got the impression, I have a belief that they may be a little bit more aggressive to seek out a buyer, because I'm sure it's more attractive with a liquor license than it is without," Anderson said.

"… The drawback to that, the whole deal is, is the rent, right? So whoever picks up that, wants to go in there for a restaurant, it's going to have to be somebody that could afford the rent."

Campoli said that if Pepper Dining can provide any specific information that suggests a deal is on the horizon, it would make the delay more palatable.

Board member Kathy Amuso made the motion for an update in January. The six months can likely be extended if the panel sees fit.

Tags: license board, liquor license, restaurants,

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Companion Corner: Princess at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
02:17PM / Wednesday, August 05, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There is an energetic girl waiting to find her new home at the Berkshire Humane Society.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Princess is a six year old shepherd mix that has been at the shelter for just over a month.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Princess.

"She's very social, very friendly. When you're out walking her, she just wants to go say hi to every single new person. Loves to make new friends. She's a lot of fun. She's very active. She's very spunky. She's very playful, and she's going to need a very very active family who's going to do a lot with her."

But Princess is no stranger to the shelter. She was a puppy five years ago and got adopted quickly, but now she needs a new family to take care of her.

"She was adopted out fairly quickly as a young puppy. She's been in the same home for the past five years. Unfortunately, they were moving out of state somewhere," Olivieri said. "They could not take her with them, so she ended up coming as a return to shelter, and she came back to stay with us."

Princess needs to go to a home as the only animal or with other male dogs that are her size or bigger.

"Her perfect home would be kids eight and up. No cats. No small animals. She has quite a prey drive. She could go to a home with another dog around her size or larger, preferably a male dog. She does a little bit better with male dogs, and she's looking for a home where people are home quite a bit, so that she's not left alone for too long. She has some separation anxiety," Olivieri said.

She also needs a very active home that can let her use her energy every day, as she is very rambunctious. Especially with playing with her favorite toy, the flirt pole.

"She could use a home where people are going to give her a lot of attention and more than just a few walks a day; she's going to need lots of exercise, lots of playtime, lots of mental stimulation," Olivieri said. "She likes to learn, so someone who would be willing to take her to training classes or work on some training with her, as well as hikes, getting out and about, doing new things, different things. She is very athletic. She'd excel at things like agility, some dog sports. Just someone who is really going to want to engage and do a lot of different kinds of activities with her."

Once you let her get her energy out, she is a cuddler who wouldn't mind being held like a baby from time to time.

"She's very sweet. She's very cuddly. She's very affectionate, but she is not a couch potato. She will stay on that couch with you for a little bit, and then she's ready to go off and do something else. So she's very busy. She's very active," Olivieri said. "Once all of her exercise needs are met during the day, she will settle down nicely, and she will want to be right by your side, cuddle with you at night on the couch, sleep with you."

Princess is very healthy but does experience some anxiety and is not fully potty trained and might have the occasional accident.

"She does have a little bit of anxiety, so she is on some medication for it right now," Olivieri said. "So a lot of structure, a lot of outlets, and familiarity, getting used to a new routine and everything is gonna be really good for her. I mean, she's just lovely. Like I said, she's very social. She likes to play with other dogs. She likes to meet new people."

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