Great Barrington — After a contained fire in the kitchen of Martin’s nearly a month and a half ago (June 9), the well-loved diner is still under repair with hopes of re-opening in late August.
Jeremy Higa, a longtime waiter at Martin’s, told the Edge that Martin Lewis, owner and namesake, was working to get the restaurant open as soon as possible but that “it was going slower than he liked.”
Lewis declined comment for this article.
Customer Betty Levinson reached out to the Edge regarding concerns raised by regular customers of the popular eatery. She told the Edge many waiters and kitchen staff who have been with Martin’s for years are experiencing difficult times, as well as is the restaurant as a whole. “This is a particularly untimely blow, given that it occurs during the summer tourist season.”
A GoFundMe page was created by dedicated customer Valerie Fanarjian to raise money for four anonymous employees facing particularly difficult times. With a goal to raise $1,000, four times that amount was raised in just one month.
Higa told the Edge many of the employees have found work elsewhere as local businesses are aware of the misfortune. “I’m working at the Berkshire Co-op Market,” he shared, “while Marie and Lisa, a waitress and a member of the kitchen staff are both at the Barrington Brewery. Angel, a waitress, is working at the Morgan House, and I believe another kitchen worker is at the Prairie Whale.”
“Given the pace at which restoration is proceeding, however, the reopening seems to be months away,” Levinson said.
Great Barrington Building Inspector Edwin May, as per Town Hall policy regarding press interviews, declined comment, referred all questions about the state of the restaurant to the town manager’s office.
