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Date: 7/13/2022
CHICOPEE – Two famed restaurant staples, The Collegian Court and Bernie’s Dinning Depot, closed their doors permanently in June after becoming household names in Chicopee.
The Collegian Court
Located on 89 Park St. near Chicopee Center, The Collegian Court was synonymous as a banquet hall, restaurant and home of Polish cuisine. The eatery closed their services on June 17 after an announcement on June 6. Owner Bill Stetson, who also owns the RumbleSeat Bar and Grill, purchased The Collegian Court in 2013 and performed significant renovations to the property.
“We purchased The Collegian Court when it was about to lose their liquor license. They couldn’t keep it going anymore, so the previous owners reached out to me. I didn’t want to see it close, so I bought it and took on a long renovation process,” said Stetson in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Stetson said the business enjoyed “a lot of success” for years after the re-opening effort. However, ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic caused a disturbance to the restaurant’s services.
“When we re-opened, it was great. The business has been good, [but] COVID-19 obviously had a negative effect. It’s a unique business, we do a lot of banquets and functions,” said Stetson.
The owner said “everything was different” for The Collegian Court in the coronavirus pandemic’s aftermath. The restaurant shifted toward a different schedule as they addressed the worker shortages affecting several industries.
“People just didn’t want to go back to work,” said Stetson.
Shortly before the closure, Stetson announced that the Melha Shriners purchased the property with the intentions of making it into their new headquarters. Stetson said the sale proposition came “out of the blue.”
“A friend of mine who is a realtor said, ‘I got somebody interested in buying the place and they are a customer as well’…I thought about it for a few days and I said, ‘you know what, I wouldn’t mind talking to them,’” said Stetson.
Stetson said he was not considering sale inquires for The Collegian Court before Shriners reached out. The owner expressed that the inclusion of Shriners in Chicopee will be a positive for the city.
“Chicopee matters a lot to me…I felt like with so many restaurants closing up, bringing the Shriners in is not a net loss for the city…I think its going to be a really good fit, and that mattered to me because this place wasn’t for sale,” said Stetson.
Bernie’s Dining Depot
Known for hearty slabs of prime rib and a train car aesthetic, Bernie’s Dining Depot announced their immediate closure on June 14. The 749 James St. restaurant opened in 1980 and became a restaurant staple over its 42 years of service.
Kara Sheehan announced the decision via Facebook.
“It is said that all good things must come to an end. This announcement does not make it any easier to let go. It is with a very heavy heart that the long history of Bernie’s Dining Depot has come to an end. We wish to thank all of our loyal customers for all of your support over the years. We will miss you all and cherish the memories of this Chicopee institution forever,” said Sheehan.
Bernie’s received recognition from Phantom Gourmet in 2015 for their generous portions and variety of cuisines. After the closure, a sign outside the restaurant space explained that the business ceased operations due to “growing costs and the economy.”
Reminder Publishing reached out to Kara Sheehan but she did not respond by press time.