Bousquet Mountain Drifters Restaurant Under New Local Ownership
The look of the pub isn't changing but the McNinches are planning a redo of the menu.
The McNinch Restaurant Group will operate Drifters Bar & Restaurant, opening on Dec. 12.
McNinch Restaurant Group is operated by father and son duo John and Tucker McNinch. They currently own and operate Patrick's Pub and the 101 Restaurant and Bar in the Holiday Inn.
"I think we have a strong understanding of Bosquet's culture, the clientele there, who they're trying to reach, who are with the ski mountain itself as well as the general area," said Tucker McNinch. "It felt like a connection that was meant to happen."
The partnership happened quite fast. The group was reached out to in October by Bousquet and will open the restaurant this Friday.
Bousquet General Manager Kevin McMillan said they are excited to start working with them.
"John and Tucker have a really great reputation in town. They really understand Pittsfield and Pittsfield market, and we're a local ski area, and our goal is always to try and serve the Pittsfield community. And I just think this is just a perfect partnership between the two organizations," he said. "We're really excited to start working with them."
This is now the third restaurant the group has taken on, though John McNinch owned the Olde Heritage Tavern in Lenox for two decades. Tucker McNinch said they like the challenge and have great support behind them to make it easier.
"I like to say you should always challenge yourself, but, if you're not a little bit uncomfortable with the new challenge, then you're not doing it right, but I think we're well equipped to handle it," he said.
Chef Brian Drumm who's been helming Patrick's will be moving to Drifters; he also worked at Heritage and 51 Park. McNinch said the house manager, Colleen, has also been a huge help getting started.
"Having great people with good experience makes it a lot easier, even though it will definitely, no doubt, be a challenge," he said.
The McNinches don't currently have plans to expand more but are always open for an opportunity.
"I like to think of myself as an opportunist. More than anything. I'm not out there searching for the next opportunity, but I'm, you know, if something amazing presents itself, I'm always willing to look at it," Tucker said.
"So as of right now, I have nothing in the cards. But as opportunities arise, we look at them, but we definitely have our hands full for now."
No changes are planned for the restaurant itself and the menu will change but will keep the pub-style fare. McNinch said the group will be "doing it our own way" as the past kitchen staff left and a new staff is coming in.
While they try to keep their menus different at each restaurant, the McNinches will be bringing their famous wings but maybe with a little twist.
"We will have wings and nachos, which we're definitely known for," he said. "I don't think they'll be the exact same way we do them at Patrick's, or the exact same way we do them at 101, because every restaurant's a little different."
The collaboration is with Mill Town Capital, which owns Bousquet. The McNinch said he's excited to work at the mountain where grew up skiing and used to watch his father, John, race in the Alpine league.
"I would say it was definitely a plus. I mean, I'm excited to be working with Mill Town. I'm excited to be working with Bousquet. All these things are and the fact that I now get to work at a ski mountain when I haven't gotten to ski nearly as much as I wanted to," he said. "You know, as I've gotten older, I don't ski nearly at all anymore, so being at a ski mountain, I find it such a fun new place to be."
McMillan said the resort has been looking for awhile for a good partnership to connect with guests and bring in a local perspective.
"We knew that we wanted to have a partnership with a local F&B (food and beverage) firm in town to run the restaurant. What we've been doing is sort of specializing in areas that we're good at, identifying areas that we currently struggle at, and then trying to bring in some local expertise," he said. "And the McNinch Group fulfill that need perfectly."
McMillan said the McNinches are the perfect group as they know the community well and that it will be a great partnership.
"John and Tucker have a really great reputation in town. They really understand Pittsfield and Pittsfield market, and we're a local ski area, and our goal is always to try and serve the Pittsfield community," he said. "And I just think this is just a perfect partnership between the two organizations. We're really excited to start working with them."
The restaurant group currently looking for people to join the team at Drifters and is hiring for both front and back of house.
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