NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Three veterans of the restaurant industry are experimenting with a collaborative that will offer distinctive experiences in a single space. 

 

Chris Bonnivier, a well-known chef, had purchased the former Desperados' assets at 23 Eagle St. and wasn't sure what to do with it after an earlier partnership failed. He took inspiration from recent pop-up eateries to partner with Michael Kelly and Joseph and Leila Segala. 

 

The chefs will split the rent three ways, reducing financial pressures in a tight industry, provide each other some back up in a crisis, and reopen a vacant storefront on Eagle. They see this as a sustainable model.

 

"I love community and I think if we all help each other we might be better off," he said. "I really want to help Eagle Street flourish and improve."

 

The Segalas were the first to open as Eagle Street Cafe earlier this month offering breakfast and lunch; Kelly is planning to open as Fewd, using the front portion for hot cocoa, baked goods, ice cream and small bites at night. Bonnivier is considering hosting specialty dinners as Radici.

 

Kelly's operated food trucks, was executive chef at Jacob's Pillow, and had been a partner in the former Valhalla in Adams. He said Bonnivier was really the fulcrum that brought the concept together.

 

"I was just kind of aimless. I wasn't really doing anything," he said. "I called Chris up on a whim, and I was just like, 'what are you up to? He said, nothing. But I got this space.' So I came and looked at it, and we had to brainstorm some ideas. He came up with a really good one, which was to have kind of a collaborative in the space. And I was like, that's a really good idea."