Understanding The Struggling Berkshire Mall’s Role In The County Economy

In late March, the Berkshire Mall – currently owned by the New York-based Kohan Retail Investment Group – closed for almost a week due to a power outage. The mall – built in Lanesborough, Massachusetts in 1988 – has been hemorrhaging occupants for years, with stores like Sears, JC Penney, and Best Buy closing their locations in the 700,000-square foot retail center. As its star continues to dim as an economic magnet for the region, WAMC spoke with 1Berkshire president and CEO Jonathan Butler about the mall’s significance for the county’s economy.