SOUTH HADLEY — Construction has begun at the former Tailgate Picnic location to turn the former deli into a new lunch cafe called Blackbird Marketplace.
The new restaurant at 7 College St. will continue the tailgate tradition of grab-and-go lunch sandwiches and coffee, but expand its options to breakfast sandwiches, salads, smoothies and baked goods. Owner Alan Anischik, who also runs Food 101 across the street, said he wanted to cater to both the college and community crowd.
“I want to make something for everyone,” Anischik said.
When Tailgate Picnic wrapped up its 37-year run at the end of 2025, it left behind a void in town, Anschik said. The deli counter’s stability and reputation for a quick lunch cemented it as a “legacy business,” President and CEO of Center Redevelopment Corporation Jeff Labrecque said.
“We wanted to get it right,” he noted. “It’s really hard to replace a legacy business when you’re trying to find a mom-and-pop.”
Labrecque heard between five and seven different pitches from business owners in western Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont, but ultimately chose to lease to Blackbird Marketplace. Anischik has a 21-year relationship with the Village Commons and he came in with an idea to flip the brick-and-mortar into a brand-new look.
“Alan is very well invested in the [Village] Commons,” Labrecque said. “He’s a local and will be all in on this.”
Renovations will include replacing floors, ceilings, paint, furniture, lighting and a gas stove. The Tailgate Picnic menu was limited by its convection oven setup. Blackbird Market, however, will have a full exhaust system and griddle to make breakfast sandwiches — a food option Village Common patrons have been hankering for, Labrecque said. A dine-in section will have about 40 seats for people to relax and enjoy the new ambiance.
The buzz around the spot is already palpable enough to taste. Anischik said patrons at Food 101 have asked about his new restaurant constantly, but he’s mostly kept the business under wraps until his permits were approved.
There is no definitive opening date for Blackbird Marketplace yet. Renovations only began a couple of weeks ago and are expected to continue for a minimum of two to three months.
“I really want people to walk and say, ‘Wow this looks really different’” Aniscik said.
