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Martin’s Restaurant shuts doors for good, sells to 47 Railroad developers

The restaurant had to be gutted and the Lewises struggled with insurance adjustors in the meantime, trying to find a way to reopen. “The fire was a life changer. If the insurance process was easier and quicker, the outcome would have been better.” -- Martin Lewis, owner of Martin's Restaurant
Workers remove signs at Martin's Restaurant last week in preparation for the sale to 47 Railroad developers Ian Rasch and Sam Nickerson. Photo: Heather Bellow
Workers remove signs at Martin’s Restaurant last week in preparation for the sale to 47 Railroad developers Ian Rasch and Sam Nickerson. Photo: Heather Bellow

Great Barrington — A popular and iconic local eatery that, for 27 years, served up “breakfast all day,” and was a place where many a town deal was cut over a mean Eggs Benedict and coffee was sold yesterday after a June kitchen fire led to a protracted insurance battle that wore the owners out.

Martin’s Restaurant was purchased for $552,500 by 47 Railroad developers Ian Rasch and Sam Nickerson, whose larger mixed development of upscale rental apartments, office space and storefronts in the same building is already underway.

“We will combine it into the other project,” Rasch told The Edge, adding that he and Nickerson had been talking to Martin’s owners Martin and Sharon Lewis since January.

“Sam and I are very excited to incorporate the Martins building into our railroad street project,” Rasch added. “The closing of Martin’s was a huge loss to Railroad Street and Downtown Great Barrington. Retail and pedestrian traffic on the street has suffered.”

Martin’s has been closed since the fire, which Martin Lewis said was “spontaneous combustion from a soiled towel.”

It was Allium owner Nancy Thomas who saw the smoke from her restaurant across the street and called Great Barrington police. Officer Chad Shimmon responded at around 11 p.m. and “broke through the kitchen door with a fire extinguisher,” Martin said.

Sam Nickerson.
Sam Nickerson.
Ian Rasch.
Ian Rasch.

“It was unfortunate but I’m grateful that people didn’t get hurt,” Martin said. “The people upstairs got out –– this past six months, that’s what I’ve been saying to myself.”

The place had to be gutted and the Lewises struggled with insurance adjustors in the meantime, trying to find a way to reopen. They had even made a plan with a local architect. “We were getting ready even though the money wasn’t there,” Martin said.

They finally gave up.

“The fire did us in,” Martin added. “It was too much stress, and it’s not really over.”

Indeed, the Lewises say they are still dealing with insurance issues. They had to hire a private adjustor. “It’s been a long process.”

The Lewises met in college, Sharon said. Sharon grew up in Sandisfield and went to Monument Mountain Regional High School and Martin is from New York, where the couple lived for 17 years. They moved back to the Berkshires and opened the restaurant in 1989.

Late at night on June 9, Great Barrington firefighters responded to a blaze in the kitchen of Martin's Restaurant at the top of Railroad Street.
Late at night on June 9, Great Barrington firefighters responded to a blaze in the kitchen of Martin’s Restaurant at the top of Railroad Street.

And for all those years, it was the place where white- and blue-collar locals mixed and where city people felt at home, too. People say they miss it, and the town has felt there is a bit of a ghost there at the top of Railroad Street.

“We’re very sad, too,” Martin said. But he and Sharon say this is an opportunity to “regroup.”

“We have a lot we have to do to reorganize our life,” Martin said. And Sharon says she “needs a break” from the stress of the last six months. “I need time to get over this whole thing.”

Rasch said Martin’s set the bar high.  “Our hope is that we can create a destination venue that will provide a real benefit to all Berkshire Residents.  Martins Restaurant will no doubt be a tough act to follow!  It has served as a community asset for 27 years. We wish Martin and Sharon Lewis the very best in their next chapter.  ”

“The fire was a life changer,” Martin said. “If the insurance process was easier and quicker, the outcome would have been better.”

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