SHELBURNE FALLS — With his new speakeasy-themed bar, Gypsy Apple Bistro owner Michaelangelo Wescott plans to offer a turn-of-the-century vibe that will be the ideal atmosphere to listen to music, socialize with friends or grab a bite to eat.

Wescott said Le Peacock, to be located beneath Boswell’s Books at 10 Bridge St. in a space he leases, will fill a void in the village. He plans to have the bar be open six days a week from noon until the last person leaves.

“The town is crying for nightlife,” Wescott said.

Le Peacock has applied for a liquor license through the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. Wescott said he plans to open the business within a few weeks of receiving the license.

Menu options will range from cans of beer to craft cocktails. Wescott said he wants Le Peacock to be affordable and feel unpretentious to guests.

Growing up in Brooklyn, Wescott worked the counter of a bodega his father owned. He mostly served Latin American food in New York, but grew up with a mother from the West Indies and was inspired by watching Julia Child’s cooking show at a young age.

Early in his career, he started working in the high-end restaurant industry and was star-struck by the beautiful dining rooms he worked in. He then moved to French West Indies in the Caribbean and ran a restaurant where he crafted Mediterranean-style food with the readily available ingredients on the island.

While living in the Caribbean, Wescott connected with chefs who brought him to western Massachusetts, selling Wescott on the region’s burgeoning culinary culture. He worked at a variety of restaurants in the area after moving, most notably Green Street Cafe in Northampton, which operated as a French bistro as well as a community hub. Later, he embarked on opening his own restaurants in Northampton, the most recent venture being the Wine Witch, which closed in 2022.

Arriving in the area 30 years ago, Wescott came to Shelburne Falls and knew it was the community he wanted to be a part of. He accomplished this goal 17 years ago when he opened Gypsy Apple Bistro, the successful French restaurant down the street from his new project.

Wescott said he loves being part of the Shelburne Falls business community, pointing to the long list of minority-owned and operated storefronts in the village, including The Blue Rock Restaurant and Bar, Bridge Street Bazaar and the newly transitioned Juice Box wine bar.

“It is nice to be in a community where there are other ethnic backgrounds,” Wescott said. “This community is warm and open-minded.”

Once the speakeasy-themed bar opens, Wescott will be running two businesses, maintaining Gypsy Apple Bistro. He said Le Peacock will be perfect place for the community to gather.

“We are not going to forget we are in Franklin County,” he noted. “We live in Shelburne Falls. This is a community-oriented place.”

Wescott already has a team of employees who work at Gypsy Apple Bistro and who previously worked at Wine Witch, and are ready to start serving customers when Le Peacock opens. He said there will be a small dinner menu served at 5 p.m., with revolving special nights and dishes.

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

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