BERNARDSTON — After several setbacks, Amy and Alex Fiorey are back serving food to the community, this time from a truck.

The Fioreys opened the Falltown Cruiser in July, specializing in broasted chicken.

The couple opened a restaurant called the Falltown Grill last summer in the building where the Four Leaf Clover restaurant stood at 19 South St. (Route 5) for 71 years. Three weeks after opening, the building was destroyed in a June 29, 2022 fire, which fire officials deemed to be caused by the spontaneous combustion of kitchen towels.

From there, the Fioreys went through a series of trials and tribulations. They initially hoped to buy a food truck, but the purchase fell through. Plans to rebuild the restaurant itself dissipated in February, at which time the Fioreys said their insurance money, through Utica First Insurance Co., covered the mortgage and debt they had already incurred, but would not cover the cost to reconstruct the building. To rebuild, they’d need to take out a $1.5 million loan — a move they felt didn’t make sense, with both of them being 45 years old. Furthermore, just hours before taking to Facebook to announce the Falltown Grill wouldn’t be reopening, the Fioreys received a call stating that their bank would not finance their plans.

Although the community raised about $12,000 for the Fioreys after the fire, when the couple decided not to rebuild the restaurant, they offered refunds upon request. In February, they said they would take the rest of the donations from people who do not ask for refunds and donate it to various Bernardston foundations.

“They put blood, sweat, tears and all their money into this restaurant,” Alex Fiorey’s sister, Carolyn Fiorey-Kolstad, said in an interview immediately after the fire.

The couple made it clear through their numerous social media posts that they intend to continue to put that same passion into their new project, but declined to be interviewed for this article.

The new food truck is parked in the former restaurant’s parking lot on South Street, across the street from the couple’s tire business Pioneer Valley Tire. The Fioreys created an outdoor seating area that includes 10 tables with yellow umbrellas. There is also a permanent shed that houses extra ingredients.

Although the parking lot is the Falltown Cruiser’s primary location, the couple plans to sell food at different locations as well. For example, they offered a limited menu at Pioneer Valley Brewery in Turners Falls last weekend.

The Fioreys announced on Facebook that the Falltown Cruiser will be open between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday for regular business hours. Their menu includes their signature broasted chicken (cooked in a process that combines pressure frying and traditional shallow frying), sandwiches, grinders and loaded fries.

Reach Bella Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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