Pittsfield — In a smashing debut in the heart of a struggling city, Hotel on North brought a fever of delight into a reviving Pittsfield last night with a crowd of around 300, sipping champagne and exclaiming delight at every turn in the 45-room knockout.
The $14 million hotel’s ground floor bustled with servers carrying, among many goodies, trays of tacos and deviled eggs; a buffet near the bar was laden with straightforward food like smoked fish and roasted vegetables. (A particularly swoonworthy roasted onion must not escape acknowledgment here.) That same table was later found to be laden with an intoxicating array of sweets.
The food was the art of local food sourcing guru, executive chef Brian Alberg, who with chef de cuisine Sean Corcoran will oversee the hotel restaurant, Eat + Drink on North, in its rustic-mod setting that bears the stamp of gifted local designer Adam Medina, who consulted on the project. A jazz band welcomed guests into the restaurant and bar area; others wandered upstairs to take a first peek at the rooms, each with its own flavor of simple, elegant style and comfort.
After entering the hotel through revolving doors, guests were greeted by Main Street Hospitality Group CEO Sarah Eustis, who was a vision in an uncomplicated blue gown, greeting newcomers along with COO Bruce Finn. Main Street Hospitality manages the hotel for owners Laurie and David Tierney, and also owns the The Red Lion Inn, Porches Inn, and Williams Inn.
Eva Sheridan, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at MountainOne Bank, which provided financing for the hotel, said that as an “economic driver” in the Berkshires, Hotel on North is “tremendous.” Sheridan, who is also chair of the Berkshire Visitors Bureau, said that the hotel is not just about Pittsfield.
“This is a gift to the Berkshires,” she added. “We need to think of it as one county — that’s how we’ll succeed.”
Main Street’s Bruce Finn said the project, which was “six years in the making,” has already created 50 jobs, and will add on another 15 for the peak season. He said the company received 400 applications at a job fair in April, and that many of the hotel’s employees live downtown and can walk to work.
Soon everyone meandered up to a second floor common room, and gathered on the two levels of balconies above, all of it lit by a glass atrium at the very top. Speeches were made, and the people who made it all happen were acknowledged. Main Street’s owner and Chairman Nancy Fitzpatrick said the project was “enormously satisfying,” and that it will “deliver one of the best hotel experiences in New England.”
That such an experience finds its ground zero in Pittsfield is no insignificant matter, as owner David Tierney noted. “Thank you for your belief in Pittsfield,” he said to an elated audience.
