Following a brief hiatus and uncertainty about its future, Dottie’s Coffee Lounge—a popular focal point for food, coffee, and community in downtown Pittsfield—reopened under new management on October 1. It had been closed since July 7, when Jessica Rufo, its founder and longtime owner, decided to step away from the business for personal reasons.
The new operator is a former staff member, Loic Adandedjan, who hopes to purchase the business within the year. Rufo is working with him to help get the latest version of Dottie’s up and running. “I’d describe it as a partnership,” he said, adding, “Jessica is being a mentor, helping me to learn the coffee operations and the business side.” His goal is to maintain Dottie’s traditional role and identity while expanding its presence through social media and other marketing channels. “It’s the best coffee in Pittsfield with a great staff,” he said. “I also want it to become a regional destination that will bring people into Pittsfield.”
Rufo established Dottie’s in 2007, when she purchased a bakery and coffeehouse on the site. Over the years, she developed the location into a popular café and gathering spot. She also made it a de facto cultural and community center with local art displays, live music, and a place for meetings and other events—which Adandedjan plans to continue. “I want it to have a community atmosphere and for people to think of it as a second home,” he said.
He is, however, making some modifications to the café’s interior, giving it a new color scheme. The initial hours are from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends.
“For the food menu, we’re focusing on the most popular items from before, including breakfast sandwiches, bagels, burritos and burrito bowls, and pastries,” Adandedjan said. In addition, the café will offer a full selection of coffee drinks, including some new seasonal beverages, with Barrington Coffee Roasting Company as its staple supplier. “I also want to set up a retail area with a selection of other fine coffees,” he noted.
Adandedjan, who is 25, grew up in Benin, West Africa, and moved to Philadelphia to attend high school and college. A photographer, video content creator, and social media entrepreneur, he relocated to the Berkshires in 2021, where he has family members. He joined the staff at Dottie’s about a year ago. “I was working in front of a computer all day and wanted to do something that would allow me to get out more,” he said, adding that Dottie’s was a natural fit because his father operates a coffee company in Benin, and coffee is a personal passion.
Rufo said her decision to close Dottie’s was difficult but necessary. “It had been building for a while,” she explained. “I had been through a series of difficult changes in my personal and family life. Additionally, I was becoming increasingly burned out by the demands of running the business. I was feeling like I needed to put on a lifejacket and figure out a sustainable way to exit.”
The impetus was the start of the busy summer season. “I realized that I couldn’t give [the business] the attention it required, and it would be too demanding for the staff,” she acknowledged. “So I decided it was best to close.”
Still, she prioritized enabling the basic business to continue on its own. “I put my heart and soul into it, and I wanted to feel good about it after I was gone,” she shared. “I received a number of inquiries from potential buyers, but they didn’t feel right. I knew Loic had ambitious goals and loves the coffee business, so I reached out to him.” Rufo saw personal similarities, too. “I was 26 when I started Dottie’s, and he’s about the same age I was then,” she said. “That resonated with me.”
In 2023, Rufo expanded Dottie’s into an adjacent space that had previously housed Mission, a popular restaurant and music venue. She named it Dorothy’s Estaminet and connected it physically to Dottie’s, with the goal of establishing a nighttime restaurant and bar. However, that business is currently closed. “We didn’t include that in the deal,” said Adandedjan. “This space is enough to accommodate what we need for Dottie’s, and I need to focus on that.”
Rufo said she is actively seeking a buyer for Dorothy’s. “I am open to all possibilities, including coming to a similar agreement with someone for that space.”
Meanwhile, Rufo emphasized that her current priorities are to help Adandedjan get established. She noted that her boyfriend, Xion Roman, is currently launching a new café on Route 20 in Hancock, and she plans to help with that business as well. Beyond that, she is weighing different options. “I studied journalism in college, and I love writing and storytelling, so I hope to do more of that in some form,” she said. “And I still love baking and cooking, so that is also a possibility.”
Rufo said she believes the outcome for Dottie’s has been positive. “I had a great run and—other than my children—Dottie’s has been the greatest gift of my life. I believe I’m leaving it in good hands. I’m very happy for Loci and for the community.”
Adandedjan reports being encouraged by the initial public reaction. “The response has been amazing,” he beamed. “As soon as we opened the doors, people from the community have really shown up to support this.”
