North Adams Airport Could Soon Have A New Restaurant

Williams College donation of kitchen equipment helps move plans forward after 6-year delay

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Plans for a new restaurant at North Adams Airport are moving forward now that Williams College has donated used kitchen equipment, easing six years of delays and sparking community excitement. The commission has long planned to open a restaurant in the renovated administrative building, but despite several Requests for Proposals (RFPs), the space has stayed unused due to a lack of necessary kitchen equipment. With the college's donation, the commission is now considering how to move the project forward, including potentially connecting some of the equipment so the city could use the space for a "pop-up" event.

Why it matters

The addition of a new restaurant at the North Adams Airport could provide a much-needed amenity for the local community and help activate a previously unused space. The airport serves as an important transportation hub, and a restaurant could attract more visitors and generate economic activity in the area.

The details

The commission has been trying to open a restaurant at the North Adams Airport for the past six years, but has faced delays due to a lack of necessary kitchen equipment. Williams College has now donated used kitchen equipment that is no longer needed, helping to remove a key barrier to getting the project off the ground. The commission is now considering how best to move forward, including potentially connecting some of the equipment so the city could use the space for temporary "pop-up" events.

  • The commission has been planning to open a restaurant at the North Adams Airport for the past six years.
  • Williams College recently donated used kitchen equipment to help move the project forward.

The players

James Haskins

Chairman of the North Adams Airport Commission.

Colleen Taylor

Owner of the Freight Yard Pub, who recently visited the college to inspect the donated kitchen equipment.

Dean Bullett

Commissioner on the North Adams Airport Commission, who proposed connecting some of the equipment so the city could use the space for a "pop-up" event.

Williams College

The college that donated used kitchen equipment to help move the restaurant project forward at the North Adams Airport.

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What they’re saying

“I think we need a plan. Are we putting this out to bid again? Are we going to set it up? I feel like we have to decide one way or another what direction we are going to go in. We have been sitting on it a while already. If we want to do this this decade, we need to get moving.”

— Dean Bullett, Commissioner (Iberkshires)

What’s next

The North Adams Airport Commission will need to decide how to best utilize the donated kitchen equipment from Williams College and determine the next steps for getting a restaurant operational at the airport. This could include issuing a new Request for Proposals (RFP) or exploring the possibility of a temporary "pop-up" event in the space.

The takeaway

The donation of kitchen equipment from Williams College has breathed new life into the long-stalled plans to open a restaurant at the North Adams Airport. This could provide a valuable amenity for the local community and help activate an underutilized space at the airport. However, the commission will need to act quickly to capitalize on this opportunity and get a restaurant operational in the near future.