The insurance agency has spent more than 100 years on Park Street but never had its own building until now.
ADAMS, Mass. -- The building at 69 Park St. once sold provisions; now it sells protection.
President and CEO David Bissaillon
purchased the vacant restaurant, which closed in 2019, as a permanent home last year for the legacy company, which offers a wide array of personal and business insurance.
"This is Smith Bros.-McAndrews' fourth location on Park Street on this side of the street. OK, we have nothing against the even side, but we've always been a little bit odd here, and it seems to be working for us," jested Bissaillon. "So we're 127-128 years old, whatever we are, but I am truly so committed to this town, this business. ...
"One of the reasons that I bought this building is because I have such confidence and faith in what is happening in this town -- the Adams Theater, the Greylock Glenn, much other investment."
The building has been transformed over the past eight months. The tables, chairs, long bar and dark wood is gone -- though quite a bit of the kitchen still remains. The space now has new carpeting, freshly painted light blue walls and white woodwork, a reception area and computers and new wiring.
Bissaillon became owner and president of the insurance agency in 2018; a year later, George Haddad and his sister Ann Bartlett decided it was time to close their restaurant, a Park Street mainstay for nearly 70 years.
Smith Bros.-McAndrew has been temporarily at 45 Park after having to move out its last offices because of problems with that building. It's been in a number of locations up and down Park Street over the years. Bissaillon, as 69 Park Street LLC, bought the building Dec. 21 for $235,000.
Both Haddad and Bartlett attended the opening and Bartlett, now a member of the Board of Selectmen as her brother was previously, held one end of the red ribbon.
"The Red Carpet has transitioned nicely," said Bissaillon. "We will continue to provide red carpet service." Bartlett interjected, "I have to say, when I saw his ad on Facebook with 'we have our red carpet service, ' I go [and she gave a thumbs up]."
Bissaillon thanked the gathering, which also included Selectmen Chair John Duval and members Christine Hoyt and Joseph Nowak, Town Administrator Jay Green, Greylock Glen Director Michael Wynn and a host of local business leaders and family members.
"Having my son work with me is an incredible ... well, four out of five days," Bissaillon joked of his son Tyler, a sales account executive. He credited his staff with pulling everything together and getting the move done. He also pointed to the placards posted outside listing all the businesses that had worked or supplied materials for the renovation. "This work is just amazing, and we really could not be more thankful."
Green recalled how he had sat at the round table in the corner of the restaurant with Bissaillon and Haddad for his interview for the administrator position. Big Y had announced its closure that very day and the Red Carpet by the end of that year.
"The topic was really about what the future of Adams was going to look like, and I realized at that time how much passion Dave had, because he was pretty shaken up over it, as would anybody with that," said Green. "But we see our supermarket now. We see what the Red Carpet's become."
When Bissaillon realized he needed a new spot, he called Green to let them know why he was looking. "But the most important piece that he said was, I need to be on Park Street, because that is the heart of Adams," said Green. "And I found that statement to be very apropos because it also reflected Dave and Tyler's own heart in SBMS' heart themselves, because they really are the heartbeat for everything that happens here in Adams."
Hoyt said there was a lot of tradition and history in the building.
"We are thrilled that you decided to really plant your roots here, not just in Adams, but on Park Street, and that we are able to celebrate this moment," she said. "So thank you for your continued investment."
Bissaillon and his son cut the red ribbon and invited everyone to take a tour and enjoy the refreshments, and to stop in anytime.
"So again, the kid who was part of a shoe store 50 years ago, R. Bissaillon & Sons Shoe Store ... 50 years later, we're a little bit down the street, but our legs are planted, and we're just so happy to work with the town," he said. "It's a great day for Smith Bros.-McAndrews."
