ASHFIELD — The Elmer’s Revitalization Steering Committee has made a deal with Greenfield Savings Bank to purchase the Elmer’s Store building for $275,000, with the closing date of April 24.

The committee is now looking to raise about $100,000 before the closing date, with an end goal of raising $500,000 for the building purchase, repairs and other business expenses by Memorial Day.

“People have been extremely generous,” said Nan Parati, a former owner of Elmer’s Store and a member of the steering committee. “It is heartwarming.”

Elmer’s Store at 396 Main St. has been in Ashfield since 1835. Parati purchased the business and began serving breakfast at the location when she moved to Ashfield after Hurricane Katrina. She sold the business in 2018 to husband and wife Florencia Ferrari Haines and Andreas Auer. The couple ran the business under the limited liability company Ashfield Holdings.

In 2022, the Elmer’s Revitalization Steering Committee began planning to purchase the business. Without the committee being warned, the building went up for auction in December. The committee began working quickly to raise money in hopes of being the highest bidder.

According to the Franklin County Registry of Deeds, the property entered the tax-title taking process in 2021. The property owners owed $10,293 in unpaid taxes as well as other associated fees. Ashfield Holdings was behind on its mortgage payments as well, which led to the bank putting the building up for auction.

The auction was postponed multiple times while the bank and the owners began working out a deal. Ashfield Holdings transferred ownership of the building to Greenfield Savings Bank, which then worked to sell the property to the Elmer’s Revitalization Steering Committee.

“Greenfield Savings [Bank has] been a great partner,” said steering committee member Ariel Brooks, noting that the bank has paid the back taxes owed on the property.

Brooks said the committee is not worried about reaching its fundraising goal by the April 24 closing date.

“We believe there is a strong collective will in the community to get this done,” Brooks said.

“People are sending in checks and donating on a daily basis,” Parati added.

Along with the monetary donations the committee has received, people with various skill sets have come forward and offered carpentry, painting, business and other services to get the new community-oriented Elmer’s Store up and running.

Parati also indicated that many former employees of the business said they were interested in returning to work at Elmer’s Store under new leadership.

There are no set plans yet, but Brooks said there will likely be volunteer workdays to get some of the building repairs done. Currently, the restaurant is not in operation, with the old business ceasing to serve breakfast in February.

The committee is not committing to a timeline, but members said they will publish a business plan as soon as possible. Brooks said they hope to be open sometime this summer.

“Our top priority is serving breakfast and we plan to get a liquor license,” Brooks said.

Updates and more information about the steering committee and the future of Elmer’s Store can be found at elmerscommunity.org.

“If everyone who loves Elmer’s steps up,” Brooks said, “we will be in great shape.”

Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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