Mayor Marchetti, left with owners Jay Santangelo and Kate Payne and their daughter, Frances, and Rebecca Brien of Downtown Inc. pose after the ribbon cutting on the cafe and event space.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community members Wander-ed downtown Tuesday morning to celebrate a new, inclusive cafe and event space.
Wander Berkshires is a queer and transgender-founded, recovery-focused cafe that has established itself as a community hub since opening in the fall. A ribbon cutting officially celebrated the Depot Street business.
While temperatures were below freezing outside, there was plenty of warmth inside.
"It's a community space, first and foremost," founder Jay Santangelo said.
"… This is like, magical, especially considering everything that's going on in the world right now. I wanted everybody to know that this is a safe place for all, no matter who you are, and everybody is welcome here."
Mayor Peter Marchetti said the city and Downtown Pittsfield Inc. are here to make sure that Wander shines, just as they did for the other 12 businesses that opened in the last year. He has been to two events and confirmed "Jay, you created a safe space here and a welcoming and warm space."
"As you said, today kind of is ironic that we are here and celebrating an opening but we need to stand strong and stand tall and continue to be ourselves and not let some government change who we are," the mayor said.
Wander is a cafe by day and an event space at night. This month it has hosted sober dance parties, workshops, drag shows, and opportunities to connect with fellow creatives and community members.
The menu features local coffee, non-alcoholic beverages, teas, freshly baked goods, and grab-and-go food options. Notably, Wander makes its own syrups for sodas including a coffee soda.
"It's a healing and nourishing space," said Kate Payne, Santangelo's wife. "The menu is crafted around nourishment."
The cafe will soon host a community darkroom with help from MassDevelopment funds. Wander is a part of the Transformative Development Initiative's Creative Catalyst Cohort that received $125,000 for a Downtown Pittsfield Creative Alliance.
The Collab, Katunemo Arts & Healing, Wander Berkshires, Rites of Passage and Empowerment (ROPE), Let It Shine, and Assets for Artists are projects that support leadership development for youth and young adults, community gathering spaces, neighborhood beautification, and partnership development.
"The back will be a darkroom that people can come and join, either rent by the hour, we'll develop memberships, and then also teach classes and workshops," Santangelo explained.
Also at Wander is the Berkshire Trans Exchange, a clothing boutique that is free for people who are queer or gender-non-conforming and anyone in need.
Santangelo said they soft opened in early November and have been getting the space up and running and spreading the word before a formal debut.
In 2022, Santangelo, Payne and their daughter, Frances, moved from Austin, Texas, to the Berkshires. After a year and a half of growing the idea in their head, Santangelo found the space and said, "This checks all the boxes and more."
They were originally looking for a darkroom to rent. While an event space was not part of the original idea, they knew that a sober, community-focused third space was needed.
Wander is located at 34 Depot St. Suite 101, the entrance farther down the alley between Tito's Mexican Bar & Grill and Crawford Square. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
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