‘FireKing BBQ’ Opens At The Eagle Building In Pittsfield

I stopped into the Eagle Building at 75 South Church Street in Pittsfield today for lunch. First floor. New spot. FireKing BBQ. Owner Ethan Sumner was behind it, and we talked.

Sumner is a '96 graduate of Monument Mountain HS in Great Barrington and then went to Roger Williams in RI. He worked at the Berkshire Record in Great Barrington and later ran his own paper for 13 years. “Berkshire’s Best: Ties, Business and Beyond.” Publisher. Sales. Company profiles. Business features. Ads.

The pandemic ended that. “I was kind of forced to close because nobody was taking out ads. That’s how print media works. You need advertising, right?”

Fire King was already existing as his business on the side. Private catering. “Weddings, company parties.” Jane Iredale. Lee Bank. Berkshire Bank. Pittsfield Co-Op. BRTA. Comalli Electric. Patriot Car Wash. “We’ve done weddings up to 250 people.”

Slater/Ethan Sumner FireKing

When is FireKing BBQ Open?

Winter used to freeze the calendar. “During the winter, my business would seize up, because it’s so seasonal. So this is a good way for me to come in and open up shop.” He signed the lease in September. “I’m gonna be here Tuesday through Friday, doing lunches, 11 to 3. And then Saturdays, I’m gonna do the big barbecue packages for pickup and delivery.”

He does not sell himself as the next Texas pit. “It’s not really a demand. It’s something that I’ve always loved to do. I’m just a guy who likes to smoke with fire and flame. I don’t like to be pigeonholed into barbecue either. Oh, you got to do brisket. I do so many things. I do deli sandwiches. I have Italian sandwiches in there. I’m going to be pulling out a Reuben sandwich pretty soon. My mother was Jewish, so we like our corned beef. We like our knishes.”

I had the chicken special - a thigh, drum, beans and cornbread - it was delicious.

And he wants people to walk in. “There’s a misconception that this building is private and only open to the tenants here. I want to bring in the public and let them know that we’re here to serve them and the community as well. We’re trying to keep our prices super reasonable. We have this pulled pork sandwich for ten dollars. It includes a corn muffin, coleslaw. I think it’s one of the best deals around. I really do.”