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Bass Water Grill is changing hands this week. The restaurant's been in business for 15 years.

New Owner of Bass Water Grill to Move Realty Company to Cheshire

By Brian RhodesiBerkshires Staff
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CHESHIRE, Mass. — Lakeside restaurant Bass Water Grill will close its doors on Saturday after 15 years in business. 

The restaurant at 287 South State Road started operation in 2007, replacing the building's former restaurant, the Lakeside. Craig Kahn, owner of All Seasons Realty Group in Pittsfield, is buying the property and plans to move the group's office there and potentially open a cafe.

"I think there's a lot of cool things that we could do with it, too, that will be great for the community," he said this week. "It will be good all around. I think it'll be a really, really nice situation."

Restaurant owner Edward Bassi posted about the change in hands on the restaurant's Facebook last week. 

"After being a part of the welcoming community for the last fifteen years, the one thing we will miss most is our family," the post read. "We thank our staff and community for standing beside us for this crazy ride."

While he said plans are not final, Kahn intends to utilize the kitchen space and wants to make sure he does it right.

"I would like to have some sort of cafe in the front, possibly utilize the back part of the bigger kitchen for some catering or events or things of that nature," he said. "I don't have anything 100 percent set in stone or concrete. Right now, I'm really focused on just getting the office up and running and going."

Kahn said he and his firm have known that the building was for sale for several years. He highlighted the location and the floorplan as significant reasons for the purchase.



"We started thinking about it, and seeing the growth potential, having an open concept office and then working with the town trying to do a cafe possibly in there," he said. "And working with the lake and the trail, it just seemed like an overall good scenario," he said.

iBerkshires unsuccessfully reached out to Bassi several times for comment.

There's been a restaurant at the location for years. Jason Boucher had operated the Lakeside Restaurant for about decade before it changed hands and had overseen a renovation of the kitchen after a fire and added the reception hall in 2002. Bass Water is the last operating sit-down restaurant in Cheshire — Bea's Daily Buzzz closed in 2005, Christina's in 2007, and the Country Charm had closed its doors in 2004 after 33 years.

Tags: business closing,   restaurants,   

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Adams Community Bank Hires New SVP Loan Operations

ADAMS, Mass. — Adams Community Bank (ACB) announced the addition of Mike Barbieri as Senior Vice President Loan Operations. 
 
In this role, Barbieri will oversee the Bank's loan operations, ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of loan processes, and driving strategic initiatives to enhance customer service and operational excellence.
 
Barbieri brings over 29 years of experience in the financial services industry, including holding leadership roles with Greylock Federal Credit Union and Pittsfield Cooperative Bank. His expertise in loan servicing and operational efficiency will help in advancing the bank's commitment to providing exceptional financial products and services.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Mike Barbieri to the ACB team," said Julie Fallon Hughes President & CEO of the Bank. "With his extensive experience and knowledge, we are confident that he will make an immediate impact on our loan operations and help drive our ongoing efforts to deliver exceptional value to our customers."
 
As SVP of Loan Operations, he will work closely with the bank's leadership team to continue streamlining loan origination and servicing processes, enhancing technology systems, and ensuring full compliance with regulatory requirements.
 
Barbieri serves as current chair of the Board for Heartway Inc (fka Berkshire Housing Services/Development), and also serves as a board member of the Berkshire Life Foundation and the MCLA foundation. Barbieri holds a BA in Business Administration-Finance from MCLA.
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