Community Embraces New and Existing Businesses

The Plant Connector opens and Berkshire Monumental Works keeps on engraving

Last weekend the North Adams community embraced the opening of a new space on Eagle Street: The Plant Connector. It’s owned by Emilee Yawn who moved to North Adams in 2016 from San Francisco looking for a place to “rabbit hole” into her art practice.

“I often believe North Adams chooses you and you don’t choose it,” Yawn said. “I think that explains the high concentration of awesome people.”

The Plant Connector isn’t just a retail store where new house plants are discovered, the space also contains a small library and gallery.

“If you are a local grower, plant propagator, maker, artist, or plant lover we want to connect!” Yawn said.

Some may say a lot of tourists flock to North Adams because of MASS MoCA, the abundance of hiking trails and mountains, and the growth of the city becoming a cultural hub. Yawn said she hopes to see more small businesses open that serve the immediate community and not strictly tourism.

Another business on the other side of town is in the same vein as Yawn in serving the local community – Berkshire Monumental Works. The monument company has been in business for 150 years and has only had four owners in the same location on Church Street.

The current owner, David Ciepiela, took over in 2012 after working as a contractor for 30 years. He said he likes helping families say goodbye to their loved ones.

“I like just designing [headstones] with the customer because they get to personalize it. Then I see their face when they see it done. It’s a nice way to help them say goodbye,” Ciepiela said. “I do everything from chickens and tractors to hearts and flowers. Whatever the family wants.”

Berkshire Monumental Works doesn’t just specialize in headstones, Ciepiela can design monuments, metal plaques, and pet and grass markers. He also offers maintenance and cleaning services for headstones and he’s the only monument business currently in North Adams. Ciepiela said families often go to the monument company in the town where their loved one lived, but headstones can be made in any town regardless of the where the cemetery or service is. 

“150 years...I think it’s a major milestone. It’s good for the area to get good news,” Ciepiela said. 

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Visit The Plant Connector on 48 Eagle St., North Adams, MA
Wed-Sun 10-6 | (415)-629-5035

Call Berkshire Monumental Works for an appointment to discuss your next design. 
1070 Church St., North Adams, MA
(413) 663-9200