PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new wine bar is planned for downtown.

 

Susan Jansen, who once was part owner of the former Halpins, is looking to open Regions Wine Bar and Nosh in the Crawford Square building. Jansen received a seasonal beer and wine license from the Licensing Board on Monday.

 

"It's just going to be a quite, peaceful place," Jansen said. "It's not going to fill up with the young, drinking crowd."

 

There won't be any jukebox or entertainment. Nor will there even be televisions for the crowd Jansen says is expected to be people just getting out of work or a movie. The small, 898-square-foot space to the left from the main entrance will only seat 36 for wine or beer and cold foods like hummus or cheese and crackers.

 

"We are going to be a small wine and beer location. We are going to serve cold plates of food," her attorney Thomas Hamel said. "This is a completely new operation."

 

Crawford Square is located at 137 North St. and is currently occupied by offices upstairs and a bakery, financial service office, and Brenda's Cafe on the first floor. Jansen hopes to open at 4 p.m., after most other businesses in the building are closed, and stay open until midnight. The bar will be closed on Sundays and Mondays.

 

In other business, the Licensing Board approved the expansion of La Fogata. The Tyler Street restaurant had expanded last year to add about 10 more seats. However, the liquor license wasn't update. On Monday, the board approved the change in premises.

 

"The restaurant has turned into a bit of a fixture on Tyler Street and there have been no incidents or complaints," said attorney Raymond Jacoub said.

 

La Fogata is a staple in the Morningside neighborhood and has been operating for the last 12 years. The restaurant serves Columbian food out of a leased building. The expansion grew the number of seats from 36 to 46.

 

"His landlord, from whom he leases the space, is also the landlord for all of the other tenants including the ones upstairs and they all received notifications," Jacoub said, providing all of the necessary documents for the change.

 

The Licensing Board also approved Jessica Lynn Porter taking over management of Port Smitts on Peck's Road. The owner, Chris Porter, died in December and the ownership is being transferred to family. Jessica Lynn Porter has worked there for a number of years.

 

"Her mother is there, Chris' widow, is there for at least 30 hours per week. It is still going to be a family restaurant, nothing will change," Hamel said.

 

Also on Monday, the board approved a license for Balderdash Cellars to hold tastings and sell capped wine bottles at the Farmers' Market. Manager Christian Hanson is becoming a regular at Licensing Board meetings with a visit nearly every six months. The company needed a permit to sell the bottles at the indoors market and then another when the market moves out doors. 

 

Hanson's trips in front of the board will be reduced now to December because the board adopted a policy, on Hanson's urging, to approve just one license for the entire calendar year. He is not expected to return again until next April.

 

"It's feeling a little bit like groundhog day," Board member Thomas Campoli said of the numerous approvals the company has been given.