Sign-up and post on Iberkshires today.It's Free!
Already a member? Log In
43°  H- 70%
The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.           
Saturday November 21, 2009
 Make us your homepage!
 

What's Playing


The Drury Drama Team presents "Dracula" on Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 19-21.

If you don't know who these guys are, just stay home.


'Pirate Radio': Good Movie Ahoy, Mateys
Movie schedules and times

Bazaars

Nov. 21

St. Stanislaus School benefit, 9 to 4 in Kolbe Hall, Adams. Bake sale, snack bar, games, Chinese auctions, money raffle, crafts, and pierogi.

Blackinton Union Church, 1373 Massachusetts Ave., North Adams; 10 to 2. Crafts table, bake sale, Chinese auction, the Christmas table, and kid's grab bag. Lunch $4, $2 kids.

First Congregational Church, North Adams, 9-2.

Nov. 28

Becket Federated Church
, Route 8, holiday bazaar from 9-3. Lunch, crafts, baked goods, holiday and other items. Information: Mary Peltier, Parish House, 413-623-5217.


Dec. 5

Holiday Fair at First Congregational Church, 25 Park Place, Lee, from 10 to 3; handcrafted items, raffles, children's shop, bake sale, cut Christmas trees and lunch from 11 to 1. Includes angel-themed goods from SERRV. Information, 413-243-1033 or www.ucc-lee.org.


Dec. 12-13

North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Information: Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.

Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here.

Sales Fliers

 
 

Daily Digest

Hooray for Vermont's Sanders and his battle against credit card companies.
How Much is Heating Oil this Week?
It's breaking $2.50 but still cheaper than gas.
Clarksburg Crime Watch Signs



We're trying out blogs to offer shorter, easy-to-find news. Let us know what you think.
Send press releases and announcements to info@iberkshires.com. Need to contact someone at iBerkshires? Here's how.
Mammography Dispute
The government's issued controversial new guidelines stating that women shouldn't get annual mammograms until age 50, rather than age 40.

iBerkshires will be meeting with local medical experts Monday. Have a question you'd like answered on this issue? Send it info@iberkshires.com with "mammogram" in the subject line.

Obituaries

Paul Sandler, 64
Robert J. Heideman, 73
Carol V. Vallieres, 75
More obituaries

Sports

Williams College Men's Basketball Season Outlook
2009 MIAA Girls Soccer - State Division 2

Final: Wahconah vs Cardinal Spellman
Date / Time: 11/21/2009; 3:30pm
Location: Foley Stadium, Worcester
MCLA Picked Last in Men's Preseason Coaches Poll

Media Partners

Berkshire News Network (WNAW;WUPE)
WJJW Charlie in the Morning

Election


Trying to remember who won what and why? All the information is right here.

 

 Search: 
 for    
Enter a long URL
to make tiny:


Related Stories

 
Printer Friendly Version
   Recommend this story to a friend

Word of Mouth Rockets Customers to Harvest Moon

By Justin Saldo
iBerkshires Intern
05:37PM / Tuesday, July 29, 2008

WILLIAMSTOWN — The Harvest Moon General Store opened last week at 724 North Hoosac Road. The new general store has everything from basic amenities, drinks and snacks to a well-stocked deli offering full line of soups, sandwiches and rotisserie meals for any time of the day.  

"So far business is going better than I could have hoped for," said Michelle Koelle, the store's proprietor. "I wanted to take it slow to get a feel for things until our grand opening so business has been mostly people in the neighborhood, but customers have come back multiple times since we opened last week and word of mouth is spreading."

Since the store opened, Koelle estimated that about 75 people have come in daily. "About 95 percent of our sales so far have been from the deli," she said. "My big draw is my slow-cooked ribs; I went through 13 racks of them in just one day last week."

Harvest Moon General Store owner Michelle Koelle sells lunch on Tuesday to Jim Bayliss.
Among the first-time customers were Williamstown residents Beverly Bayliss and her husband, Jim.

"We drove by the store several times before it opened; our hunger and curiosity brought us in today," said Beverly Bayliss. "It looks very nice. ... I like the colors, decorations and the menu."
A resident of Hinsdale, Koelle is no stranger the world of small business in the Berkshires. "I have always been interested in this kind of business, for six years I have been self-employed and ran a realty business with my husband in Pittsfield."

The property has seen its fair share of general stores, from the Tupelo Honey Market to McNichol's General Store for many years before that. Koelle offered her thoughts on challenges she has encountered with the location and her plans that she hopes will make the Harvest Moon outlast its predecessors. 

"The most challenging thing is trying to balance supply with demand," Koelle said. "Meat is too valuable a commodity to waste with respect to the amount of time it takes to get it and the life of the animal that provided it.

"Right now I am trying keep store prices convenient in terms of customer's gas and time so that people won't have to justify a drive down to Stop & Shop to save on milk and bread."

Koelle's plans for the general store as it grows include advertising online and through local papers and the addition of a delivery service. Another popular idea is the recent addition of rotisserie duck to the deli menu. Currently, the store has five employees but Koelle plans to hire more as it grows. 

The Harvest Moon General Store's hours are Monday through Wednesday 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information or to place a takeout order, call 413-458-4300.
Your Comments
Post Comment
No Comments


Top Stories...
Beacon Cinema Opens in Pittsfield
PITTSFIELD - "It is the crown jewel of the revitalization of downtown." — Mayor James M. Ruberto
New Moon Mania Hits Berkshire Mall
LANESBOROUGH - "The first 'Twilight' movie did very well so we were expecting good crowds not only...
The Independent Investor: Mutual Fund Fees: Why Should...
NORTH ADAMS - From the institutional investor's point of view; when you buy in bulk, no matter what...
St. Stan's Vigilkeepers Keep Spirit of Parish Going
ADAMS - "We're here indefinitely." — Laurin Zepka
New Moon Rises for North Adams, Pittsfield Theaters
NORTH ADAMS - That's good news for people looking for the first-run blockbusters that fuel the holiday...


iBerkshires.com Text Ads
www.iberkshires.com
www.jiminypeak.com
www.iberkshires.com
www.UMassULearn.net
Advertise on iBerkshires.com



Essentials
Berkshire Nightlife
Berkshire Photos
Berkshire Wallpaper
Class Reunion Page
Columnists
Dannyoart.com
Get Lunch Specials
Home & Garden
Movie Times
Obituaries
Randy Trabold
Weddings

Enter your email address below to receive our FREE iBerkshires.com Newsletter

| Home | A & E | Automotive | Business | Community News | Dining | Lodging & Travel |
| Real Estate | Schools | Sports & Outdoors | Berkshires Weather | Berkshires Map |
Advertise | Recommend This Page | Help
Contact Us | Privacy Policy| User Agreement
Execution Time: 551 ms