The Lee Chamber of Commerce invites people to the, ‘Gateway to the Berkshires’
By Colleen A. Henry
Discover Lee and Re-Discover New England! As the “Gateway to the Berkshires” Lee sits at the entry point for many of the year round offerings of Berkshire County – culture, shopping, dining, and nature – for visitors and residents alike.
Our quintessential New England town is a place of hidden gems – elegant & historic Inns, a robust antiques scene, diverse dining options, small town stores and large, popular shopping outlets; hiking trails, swimming, boating and fishing opportunities abound. During the summer months Main Street itself showcases “nature” as baskets overflowing with lush, abundant flowers hang from every lamp post – lending a delightful, garden-like air to the sidewalks, courtesy of the Lee Beautification Committee and its sponsors.
Lee’s historic district is a lovely manifestation of all that is great about the history of New England. Lee First Congregational Church is a beautiful exemplar of the thinking of our founders, and of many small towns in Massachusetts. Church Park contains memorials to the Native Americans who thrived in this area, a water fountain designed by Daniel Chester French which includes a depiction of Chief Konkapot; mature plantings, and is rimmed with lovely old homes. From June-September the Lee Farmers Market offers fresh, locally-grown products for sale in the Church Park at the very center of Lee’s downtown district. The park also hosts craft fairs, the Latino Festival, Lee Founders Weekend, and many other community activities; Lee Library further north on Main Street is the only Carnegie library in Berkshire County and boasts a robust calendar of special events for families and culture enthusiasts.
Our downtown shopping area is home to an assortment of venues that will tempt you to exit your vehicle and walk for a while. Everything from hardware stores, antique and second-hand shops, barbers and nail salons, banks, a specialty bakery, a high-end jewelry store, art gallery, a Museum of Animation, a live performance theater, to a kitchen/bath showroom can be visited on Main Street. Downtown also offers clothing stores, a drug store, a couple of churches, gift shops, quilting supply shop, pet supplies, Town Hall, a stationery shop, lawyers, dentist and accountants offices, and the Lee Police, EMS & Fire departments. Downtown Lee is home to a few lovely, strategically placed, “pocket parks” with benches that allow pedestrians to sit down, rest and enjoy watching our bustling shopping areas on Main and Park streets. As you can see – a quintessential New England small town business district.
If that is not enough shopping and browsing to satisfy, Lee is also home to the Simon-owned Lee Premium Outlets with over 60 nationally-known brand stores. The Outlets’ offerings range from men’s & women’s clothing to jewelry, shoes and leather goods, sunglasses and socks, to the delightfully delicious Harry & David’s assortment of chocolates, soup, fruit and other gourmet food items.
Dining in Lee is a gustatory delight, with food choices ranging from French bistro style to Indian, Peruvian to Italian, Chinese, California cuisine, and a Fish House, plus American cookery options. Whether your preference is for casual bistro-style dining, pizza & pasta, seafood or steak – from fast food to slow cooking – Lee’s restaurants can satisfy a range of tastes. If breakfast is your guilty pleasure we offer Aiello’s Breakfast and Lunch, and crepes from the Starving Artist Café. If you crave delectable desserts, try the luscious creations at Chez Nous Bistro or the wickedly delicious designs from Cakewalk Bakery. Locally made ice cream is available at Local Lee Scooped on Route 20 (Laurel Street) in Lee. Whatever your dining preference, Lee has it all.
Our lodging offerings range from lovely B&BS and Inns to cozy hotels and national chain motels with amenities galore. On West Park Street you will find two B&BS that are part of the collective known as Berkshire Elegant Country Inns (BECI). In South Lee we have a long-established Oak & Spruce resort offering all the indoor and outdoor activities your heart could desire. Historic, lovely Inns with knowledgeable and friendly Innkeepers will enhance any visitor’s stay with information about the history of their buildings and the area, events and conditions listings, and quite often can direct guests to delightful spots that a visitor may not otherwise know about – quirky cultural venues, hidden gems of natural and man-made beauty and not-yet-discovered special places that will engage your mind, body and soul.
Town-wide special events in Lee include: Berkshire Gateway Jazz Festival, Chamber of Commerce Craft Fair, the Taste of Lee, Lee Founders Weekend and Festival Latino.
Lee Founders Weekend, held every year during the 3rd weekend in September, is our annual birthday celebration – a time for neighbors to enjoy what our town has to offer, to gauge how far we have come since our founding in 1777, and see where we are going as we motor further into the 21st century. This year we will be celebrating the 241st anniversary of the Town of Lee with a free fireworks show (visible from Main Street) as the conclusion to our Taste of Lee event. The highlight of Founders is a Hometown Parade down Main Street on Saturday morning with floats, bands, fire engines, antique cars, and clowns; many local organizations and business interests are represented throughout the parade. Children’s activities organized and supported by the Lee Youth Association delight children of all ages at locations along Main and at the Lee Athletic Field; a Duck Derby on the Housatonic River offers prizes and fun for all. A cemetery tour highlights the stories of our founders, artisans and crafters set up booths to sell their goods, local farming enterprises entice visitors with freshly-grown produce, and local community organizations offer information about their services. Main Street merchants are open with special sales and distinct products. A parade, balloons, arts & crafts, food, ducks, bouncy houses, games and music – what’s not to love about Lee Founders Weekend?
The Lee Chamber of Commerce organizes and sponsors Lee Founders Weekend; for additional information about events, or to learn about becoming a vendor, call/email, or visit our website: www.leechamber.org. For a great overview of our town, click on the link to view our video “Lee: Gateway to the Berkshires”.
Promoting the Town of Lee and all it has to offer is the mission of the Lee Chamber of Commerce. With support from our town fathers and chamber members, the Chamber of Commerce funds events, dispenses information and advice, and promotes a healthy business environment that helps to keep our town vibrant, bustling and viable. To become a member of the Lee Chamber of Commerce, please call 413.243.1705 or email: info@leechamber.org.
So, come to Lee and discover what New England is all about!
