New Pizzeria Opens in North Adams

By Justin SaldoiBerkshires Intern
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NORTH ADAMS — A couple is hoping to duplicate their South County success with the opening of Christo's Famous Pizza today at 20 Holden St.

The proprietors of the eatery, Christo, 64, and Athina, 65, Grigoropoulos of Lenox, have more than 40 years experience in the pizza business, with several restaurants in South Berkshire, including Athena's Pizza in Lenox.

Pizza is a competitive industry in this area, with four other pizzerias and another soon to be opened within walking distance of the newest establishment, but the Grigoropouloses are not worried.

"We have been doing this successfully in the Berkshires for a long time," said Christo Grigoropoulos. "What people in the area want is good food at a good price and that's what we have always offered."

"We are a more traditional establishment that offers more than just pizza," he continued.

Christo's is also Greek restaurant that serves everything from calzones and grinders to more traditional fare like pasta and salad. It also offers gourmet pizza with toppings such as kalamata olives, pesto, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes and feta and ricotta cheese. In addition to the usual assortment of salads, sandwiches and wraps, the eatery offers dinners including New York sirloin strip, prime rib and house specialities.
Christo and Athina Grigoropoulos have opened a pizza and Greek restaurant on Holden Street.

Formerly the North Adams Pizza Co., the Grigoropouloses purchased the business three months ago from owner Christopher Tremblay and have been doing renovations and redecorating. The site had also been the home of Hickory Bill's Barbecue.

"You got to go by the books and take no shortcuts to succeed," said Grigoropoulos.

The restaurant is fully staffed; the Grigoropouloses searched through more than 200 resumes for suitable employees. It offers eat-in and takeout service.

"I like when kids are looking for work," Grigoropoulos. "It says good things about an area when young people are motivated."

He said the staff has trained for the last three weeks to ensure they will be ready for the workload and are now ready to serve the public.

The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 10:30 to 10, Friday and Saturday from 10:30 to midnight and Sunday from 10:30 to 10. For more information or to place an order, call 413-662-3500.
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North Adams Police Block Houghton Street for Crisis Intervention

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Houghton was blocked off between North and School streets, frustrating neighbors trying to get home. 

Update: Early this morning, the Police Department posted that the situation "has been resolved" and the road reopened. Officers may still be in the area to complete their investigation.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The upper section of Houghton Street was blocked off for hours on Wednesday night as authorities sought to deal with an individual reportedly having a mental health issue. 

 
In a Facebook post, police described it as a "critical incident" unfolding in the area and alerted people to avoid the upper Houghton "and allow first responders the space they need to safely manage the situation."
 
It started at about 9 p.m., said Police Chief Mark Bailey, speaking at about 12:30 a.m. He said no neighbors were evacuated and that mediators had been conversing with the individual. He declined to go into detail. 
 
He said further information would be provided either through him or through the mayor's office later in the morning. 
 
Members of the Berkshire County Special Response Team, including officers from Lenox and Pittsfield, were staged along the top of Brooklyn Street and Houghton was closed between School Street and North Street. 
 
Two ambulances were staged at the intersection with Brooklyn and Houghton, though one left before midnight. State Police stepped in to help patrol the city. 
 
Drones could be seen hovering over; Bailey said, "everything in the sky is ours at this time." 
 
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