NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A new restaurant on Main Street, a provisions shop and a convenience store all got the nod from the License Commission on Tuesday.

 

Siblings Colleen and Sean Taylor are expanding their cuisine empire yet again with the establishment of Main & Mill in the old TD Bank. They were before the commission to apply for an all-alcohol license. 

 

The building is owned by Ginko on Main Street LLC, which has granted 20 years exclusive possession of the property to Latent Builds as the developer. Jack and Suzy Wadsworth, behind Ginko, are development partners with Salvatore Perry and Karla Rothstein of Latent.

 

The bank closed in early 2021 and purchased by Ginko late that year. Plans for the property unveiled three years ago envisioned a restaurant, retail, a park and rooftop bar. 

 

The building's hosted some pop-up eateries and is currently under construction for the new restaurant. 

 

Colleen Taylor said the restaurant will be open seven days a week serving lunch and dinner, and be open early for coffee. 

 

"It's not going to be a very big restaurant. It's about the same size as Trail House, except for Trail House has a bigger patio, so about the same seating," she said.

 

The eatery will have around 60 seats inside, including four bar stools and a high "common table" with about 10 seats, and 12 seats outside. The bar area will be where the tellers were on the left side as you walk in. 

 

It will also have some seating outside, she said, and will be "restaurant focused, but we'll have wine and some cocktails and beers."

 

"We have been operating restaurants in North Adams for 34 years," Taylor continued. "I like to picture myself as a rule abider."

 

That meant all her bartenders and waitstaff are TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) trained, and the alcohol storage will be locked and only accessible through the bar. 

 

Sean Taylor explained they are only leasing the ground floor area, though there are some common areas for freezers and refrigerators. It does not include the proposed rooftop bar. 

 

The Taylors are probably best known for Freight Yard Pub, which they've operated for more than three decades; they also own Trail House Kitchen & Bar on State Road, Craft Food Barn on Curran Highway, and Berkshire Catering Co. They recently took over management of the Store at Five Corners in Williamstown. 

 

The commission approved alcohol service for 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. 

 

They also approved a wine and beer license for The Diving Horse LLC at 26 Holden St., where North Adams Yoga had been located. 

 

Owner Hannah Blazejewski described her venture as modern mercantile, with gifts, homeware, lifestyle goods and provisions, such as natural wines and craft beer. 

 

Blazejewski, who was approved for a change of use by the Planning Board on Monday, said then she would have items like Scandinavian candy, local cheese and meats, and packaged non-perishable smaller brands, along with pantry items. 

 

"I've worked in a wine shop in Stowe [Vt.], actually kind of similar vibes, kind of helped inspire me, and then I've also been a server for over 20 years," she said, explaining her experience around alcohol. "Even now I'm working at Casita as well, just for a second income."

 

Commissioner Rosemari Dickinson asked how the alcohol would complement her other wares. 

 

Blazejewski said her offerings would curated for tourists or residents looking to pick up a gift wine for a house party, someone looking for a hard-to-find beverage or to pick up a snack and nice bottle.  

 

There was some discussion on hours, with Blazejewski considering she would close latest 7 and the commissioners explaining if she wanted to stay open later, she should ask for their hours now. 

 

"If say we give you till 9, and that would be covered, like a first Friday event, or some downtown event, then you could do that. But if you wanted to close at 7 every night, you could," Dickinson said. Because otherwise you would have to go back to us to alter your hours, as well as the Planning Board."

 

The commission approved the hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. 

 

 EZ Mart Foods of MA Inc., owned by the Jamal brothers, was approved for a beer and wine package license. The gas station and convenience store is at 232 Ashland St.

 

"We would like to increase our sales for the business, it's like a hardship, because our business dramatically went down after Cumberland Farms opened on the street, and I'm trying to increase my sales," Khalil Jamal, president of the corporation. "We open from 5 to 11 every day, and this is main reason — to bring more customers."

 

Jamal also noted the work being done by Berkshire Gas on Ashland has also disrupted the business, and that the three-year reconstruction of Ashland Street starting in late summer will be another blow. 

 

Commissioners asked how the store would prevent sales outside of allowed hours, and handle underage customers considering its location so close to the college. Hasan Jamal explained that the coolers not only can be locked, the registers can be set to prevent scanning of the beverages during off hours. They have experience at the other stores selling alcohol and training staff.  

 

"We don't even sell energy drinks to kids. There's no law that tells me not to," Khalil Jamal said.

 

The store was approved for beer and wine from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. 

 

In other business, the Wigwam was approved for an entertainment license for acoustic music and the commissioners will discuss at its next meeting the state's communication on allowing local license boards to give pouring establishments permission to remain open until 3 a.m. for the World Cup and 250 celebrations.