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Main Street Restaurant Closes DoorsBy Jen Thomas
iBerkshires Staff
07:45PM / Wednesday, February 20, 2008
 | | Milan at Fifty-Five on Main Street in North Adams. |
NORTH ADAMS - Yet another downtown eatery has closed its doors in the city, after chef and owner John "Jack" F. Carlow III vacated his Milan at Fifty-Five Main Restaurant and Bar last month.
"I don't know much but I can say that I received a letter from the owner, informing me that he was terminating his operation, at the end of January," David Carver, managing partner of Scarafoni Associates, which owns the property at 55 Main St., said Wednesday. Milan's lease with Scarafoni ran through this May.
Milan at 55 specialized in high-end Italian fare in a contemporary setting and, in the summer, was popular with actors at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Milan is the latest in the long list of restaurant closings within recent years in the city. Gideon's Fine Dining and its smaller sibling, Gideon's Nightery (later EGL), Hickory Bill's BBQ, Breda's Italian Restaurant and Sugar Llama all called it quits in 2007, and other North County establishments like the Taconic Restaurant in Williamstown and Christina's in Cheshire have been shuttered over the last few years for various reasons.
Last month, calls to Milan, which had operated on Main Street since 2002, were answered by a voice recording that said the restaurant was closed but did not say why or for how long. This week, both the phone line and Web site were discontinued.
Carlow, contacted on Wednesday, said he was not ready to comment.
Carver said the restaurant's abrupt closing is an opportunity to return an old favorite to the area.
"We're actively searching for a new restaurant owner. What we want to do is bring a first-class diner operation back to Main Street," he said.
The Milan location is better known to area residents as the site of the Capitol Restaurant, a longtime favorite that offered diner and American favorites like macaroni and cheese and meat loaf.
It wasn't unusual to see lines out the door of the Capitol in the 1970s and '80s when the former Sprague Electric would spill hundreds of workers into the downtown at noon. The restaurant closed in the 1990s.
It was replaced by another eatery, Milan, which Carlow purchased. The Schenectady, N.Y., resident had worked at the former Il Tesoro on Holden Street. There have been a succession of resturants in that location, including Gideon's, which closed last year. It now houses Taylor's Fine Dining. |
I used to work there. Jack was a good guy and a wonderful chef (GREAT really!) but didn't run the business well.
We had many nights where not a single person came in. Seriously. That's why he'd close at 9 p.m. on a Friday in the summer--he probably had a couple covers for the night and gave up.
He woke up early and drove home late to be with his family as well as do all the purchasing and prep work. He was a one man show in a business that needs a couple extra hands...at least
It wasn't destined to last but the food WAS good at least. | | from: NMB | on: 06-01-2008 |
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How about a wonderful organic restaurant that supports Berkshire grown? Now that sounds good!
Enough with the greasy diners, disgusting fast-food, and heavy overpriced food. Keep it simple, local and organic!!!! | | from: Organic | on: 03-23-2008 |
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| I didn't realize that 55 Main was still open! | | from: Shannon Roberts | on: 02-25-2008 |
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| North Adams needs to stop trying to be what it isn't. It isn't Boston and it isn't New York City, which means that high prices and small portions are not what the "real locals" want. Sure, there is a transplanted population here because of Mass Moca, but people earning $30k, aren't looking to spend $30 on a meal and still feel hungry. Bounti Fare, Freight Yard and Boston Seafood are indeed successful because of good food at a fair price. | | from: RB | on: 02-24-2008 |
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| Agreed with DM -- the secret to success for a restaurant in this area is good food, good service, at a decent price. While it's easy to point to restaurant failures, you can also point to long-time successes: Boston Seafood, Freightyard Pub, BountiFare, and others. They aren't still in business just because they're lucky. They offer what people want. | | from: Paul | on: 02-21-2008 |
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| Bring back the Capitol! | | from: rl | on: 02-21-2008 |
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| Run a restaurant that his consistent hours, consistent quality of food, and is service friendly and you have the perfect recipe for success. Another restaurant will take over and will be just as good if not better. Was tough to eat at 55 Main when you would find it closed at 9:00 on a Friday night during the summer. Nothing comes easy in life. Hard work and determination always pays off in the end. | | from: DM | on: 02-20-2008 |
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