CHESHIRE, Mass. — Brian Keyes is enjoying retirement — with a new job.

He has recently started running the Snack Shack next to the Cheshire Reservoir.

The shack had been closed since 2012, but with Keyes' leadership, is now serving those who use the reservoir and the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.

“I saw the need and a want. I had a want to do something, I just didn’t know what it was. But then I saw this sitting and I said, 'that really is an opportunity waiting to happen.' There’s just nothing for the people hiking biking walking on the path,” Keyes said.

Keyes grew up vacationing in the Berkshires and knew this was a place he always wanted to come and give back to. He opened up the Cheshire Snack Shack, starting with Italian ice.

“I know that this is not common here so if I was going to do something, I needed to bring something different because everybody carries ice cream around here, but nobody has Italian ice,” Keyes said.

After listening to the community, he decided to add more food options and will add bait and tackle for people going fishing. He likes to hear recommendations from the community for what they would like to see.

One of the things he plans to do is clear the overgrown brush by the side of the lake.

“I’d like to open that up from there to the stage opening so that will be all exposed and open, and I would like to put a dock in there and possibly do the boat rentals in that area,” said Keyes. 

Keyes is planning to close in mid-October, but will look to open for certain fishing derbys and events during the wintertime.

“I’m just here to try and make people happy and put a smile on their face and know that they have a place they can go,” Keyes said.