Well Known Pittsfield Chocolatier Opening Storefront on North Street
 |
| A storefront has been Warner's lifelong dream, and it will help her to get her kitchen back. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Well-known chocolatier Tarah Warner is moving into her own storefront to have her own kitchen and bring more of her truffles to downtown and beyond.
Truffles by Tarah will soon be opening her own place at 123 North St., formerly housing Italian restaurant Brooklyn's Best.
A storefront has been Warner's lifelong dream, and it will help her to get her kitchen back.
Warner has currently been operating out of her home kitchen with a cottage kitchen and cottage wholesale license. She has currently been selling at pop-ups and events.
"Literally, at my breaking point, I don't have enough room to cook for myself. My boyfriend likes to tease me. I'm a classically trained chef, and I don't cook for him because I have less space than this table is to prepare any meals because everything else belongs to the business." She said,
"My dining room table is in my basement, and I have shelves. When you walk in my kitchen, it looks like a restaurant. So it was finally time. I'm literally busting into the seams. So this is a chance to expand. I know where I want to be. I know what's working and what I think will continue to work, so it's just the next step in the progression of the business, which is really exciting."
Born and raised in Berkshire County, Warner is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., with a degree in baking and pastry. She has worked as a chocolatier for over 14 years, including for some time at Mielke Confections in South County before it closed.
She explains each bite is a taste of the Berkshires as she uses local ingredients to curate her truffles. She said she has sourced and partnered with places like Berkshire Mountain Distillers, High Lawn Farm, No. Six Depot Coffee, and more.
"I try to use as many locally sourced ingredients to flavor them to be a taste of the Berkshires in every bite. So I'm hoping to continue that as I grow and expand the business. That also might mean it might turn into more Massachusetts or local in every bite rather than just specifically the Berkshires, but I'm really excited to be able to expand."
Warner came across the space after discussions with Downtown Pittsfield Inc. Director Rebecca Brien, who helped make inquiries on her behalf to see if it would be an available storefront.
"She and I have been in talks for a long time about keeping an eye out, and she knew from the get-go that I wanted to stay in Pittsfield, preferably on North Street. So when she heard that Brooklyn's Best might be leaving, she started making inquiries."
Warner explained that the landlord, Steve Oakes, has been very supportive of her and her adventure.
She said she is redoing the space with new flooring, taking the walls to half walls for people to be able to see her making the chocolate, repainting, and more to clean up the space and make it her own and enjoy a little pick-me-up when wanted or needed.
"What I'm hoping for is a beautiful place for people to have a little indulgent treat. There's always the holidays, but chocolate's an everyday experience, an extra everyday luxury. I'm close enough if somebody's having a bad day at the office. Come over on your lunch break. That's a lot more socially acceptable than going and getting a martini for lunch."
The new storefront will also help her expand her reach with her online chocolate sales; currently she can only ship in Massachusetts.
While the place will be a grab-and-go, she hopes people will enjoy the other local businesses around her as well as in her store with her Berkshire Corner.
"Other local small businesses can sell their products in my store. I am a firm believer of as you go up the ladder, don't pull up the ladder behind you. Put your hand down and help the next person. And these are the businesses that are hopefully going to get big enough where they need a storefront and want to come to Pittsfield and want to be a part of this."
While the holiday seasons will be busy, she says she would like to bring events for people to enjoy when business is slower. She also plans on hosting ticketed after-hours events for chocolate and wine pairings and the history of chocolate, where it's a little bit of lecture class and a little bit of eating,
"A lot of millennials and folks in general, they want experiences; they don't want stuff. So, a couple of bucks, night out, get some chocolate out of it, and learn something."
Warner says she hopes to be open in mid-October if everything goes to plan with permitting and is thinking of being open Wednesday through Sunday, with holiday seasons having extended hours.
"I'm really excited to do this. This has been a lifelong dream of owning my own business, and I'm really excited to serve Berkshire County and be a part of people's celebrations or helping them turn around a bad day, kind of thing. So I'm just really excited to be a part of this, and specifically be a part of the downtown."
Tags: new business, chocolate, North Street,
