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Adam Steele, left, and Tyler Purdy opened The Tap Room in the former location of the Lanesborough Local Country Store.
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The space features darts, a stage for live music, pool tables, cornhole, karaoke, and ping pong.
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The owners are also encouraging patrons to start their own leagues for the various games available in the space.
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The Tap Room features a busy schedule of themed events.

The Tap Room in Lanesborough Offers Food, Music & Themed Events

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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The Tap Room is open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to closing, and Saturday and Sunday from noon to closing.
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Adam Steele and Tyler Purdy opened The Tap Room on Nov. 25, a new space designed for community members and visitors to gather.
 
Purdy, whose wife Ana Bradbury owns the Lanesborough Local Country Store, took over the original storefront after Bradbury moved her business to a larger location across the parking lot.
 
"When we moved over to the bigger location, I did a lot of work in this space initially and didn't really want to give it away to someone else. Me and him have always talked about just, like, opening a bar, a brewery, or doing something," Purdy said.
 
Lifelong friends, the duo always wanted to start some sort of business venture together. Steele operated a home brewery for 15 years, and together the pair previously ran a mobile bar business called Farm Truck Catering Company. When the storefront became available, they decided it was the right moment to establish a dedicated space for people to enjoy.
 
"We wanted to make a cool spot that has a lot of games, TVs with, like, cool stuff on—you don't typically see, like skiing and fly-fishing and mountain biking, stuff that's not typical—and have good drink options, good beers, and live music a lot, because it just seems like this area is lacking all of those things," Purdy said.
 
Purdy noted that few local establishments offer the variety of activities found at The Tap Room. The space features darts, a stage for live music, pool tables, cornhole, karaoke, and ping pong. His experience at the country store often involved tourists asking for recommendations on local entertainment.
 
"When we have people, like tourists from the Lanesborough Local, and they always ask, 'What food is there to do around here?' And really it's a lot of, like, restaurant bars; like, there's not a lot of, like, activity places," Purdy said.
 
The Tap Room features a busy schedule of themed events: Mondays are "Bring Your Own Vinyl" night, followed by Trivia Tuesdays, Open Mic Wednesdays, and Karaoke Thursdays. Fridays and Saturdays are dedicated to live music, while Sundays feature tournaments.
 
"We're very open to suggestions with things. We've had people suggest bands. We've had people suggest beers, and we've changed them. People suggest something, yeah, we'll get it, and we get it," he said.
 
The owners are also encouraging patrons to start their own leagues for the various games available in the space.
 
When renovations began in October, Steele and Purdy handled much of the work themselves, including painting and construction. They also commissioned local Pittsfield artist Bobby Diesel to create a custom graffiti mural on the interior wall.
 
"Built the stage, built the tables, built the bar, built the tap system," they said.
 
Based on patron feedback, they are currently adding more high-top seating to accommodate the growing crowds. The duo hopes The Tap Room will become a staple music venue and the go-to destination for entertainment in Lanesborough.
 
The Tap Room is open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to closing, and Saturday and Sunday from noon to closing. Information on upcoming events can be found on their website and social media pages.

Tags: new business,   bars, taverns,   taproom,   

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Second Streets Second Chances Awarded $85K for Workforce Re-Entry Program

By Brittany Polito

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A local program for formerly incarcerated citizens seeking a technical career received $85,000 from the state.  

On Thursday, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $2.25 million in Re-entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program grants to 12 organizations that will provide job training, career support, and employment opportunities to 445 formerly incarcerated individuals returning to their communities.

Second Street Second Chances was allocated $84,712 to partner with the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office to offer a training program to 12 returning citizens with a focus on the advanced manufacturing and engineering industry.  

The funds will be used to put 12 returning citizens through a training program with a focus on the advanced manufacturing and engineering industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in manufacturing and welding roles at Onyx Specialty Papers and Hi-Tech Mold and Tool.

The program was one of 12 awardees, a majority on the eastern side of the state; Greenfield also saw funding.

"When people return to their communities, they should have a real opportunity to get a good job, support their families and build a stable future," said Gov. Maura Healey in a press release. 

"These grants connect people with the training and experience they need to succeed and with employers that are ready to hire."

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll said successful reentry means making sure people have the tools and opportunities to move forward, and these programs bring together community organizations, public safety partners, and employers to connect people directly with training and jobs. 

Launched in 2022, Second Street Second Chances' mission is to provide a central point of access for medical and mental health, housing, job training, legal services, and more for a successful reentry into the community. 

Early this year, the nonprofit saw an $89,000 grant from the program.  Executive Director Lindsay Cornwell at the time said this funding allowed 2nd Street to expand its mission of supporting returning citizens in Berkshire County through meaningful workforce opportunities and a pathway toward sustainable employment. 

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