“Our mission is to create a unique and approachable wine bar where people with varying degrees of wine knowledge can come together, share stories, and deepen their appreciation for the art of winemaking while supporting small, independent wine makers across the country and the world.”
—Abby Pendergist, proprietor of Half Rats Wine Bar, 343 Main Street in Great Barrington
In the Berkshire scheme of things, Abby Pendergist may still be considered relatively new to Great Barrington, restaurant challenges, and natural wines. But her taste, instincts, experiences, and commitment have proven to be strong ingredients for the concept she’s curated—a cozy meeting place that’s vintage but fresh, warm but hipster cool, both the “Cheers” bar where everybody knows your name and the place you can pop in alone and quietly lose yourself in your book on a comfy couch or at a long table.
“I moved with my family to this area eight years ago so we could be close to my special needs brother, who was moving to a shared living community,” Pendergist begins. “When I graduated from high school, I planned to take a gap year in New Zealand and Australia and then return home for college. But once I started traveling, I became obsessed with it and started working at Rubi’s and Prairie Whale to earn money so I could travel more.” After several work-travel rotations, she met Nick Speidel, and they began dating. “As I became more of an adult, we put down more roots, adding two dogs (Albert and Susan) and a house to the equation, but I remained as obsessed with seeing the world as ever.”
In March of 2021, on the heels of the COVID shutdown, Pendergist opened her first business, a “throwback threads” clothing shop named Rose Petal Vintage, tucked in the pocket-size storefront adjacent to SoCo Creamery at 3 Railroad Street—where, according to AuctionNinja, you could find “everything from mid-century silk shifts to 70’s maxi skirts.”
“I’ve always loved old, vintage things, and started collecting second-hand clothing in high school,” Pendergist explains. “By 2020, I felt like I was hoarding too much, so I decided to try selling my stuff.” She got a good deal on the rent in town because of the timing, but “although the space was precious, it was soon too small.” So she closed the brick-and-mortar part and continued selling at antique shows, local markets, and on Etsy. Just last month, she announced on Instagram, “It’s been a long time in the making, but I finally sold all the inventory I own, and I couldn’t feel better!”
A speakeasy without the hidden doorway
Her focus on vintage now has a new meaning and purpose. “I had a vision in the back of my head and instincts about how I wanted the new space to feel that came from traveling, visiting little bars, and collecting inspiration,” Pendergist notes, adding that her favorite repurposed items became part of the décor and vibe. “My love of those elements moved with me into the bar,” she says, with a nod to the walls.
In late August of 2025, she opened her own version of the kind of places she had discovered—and loved—in her travels and explorations. Her new focus is on grapes and their vintage, bringing to it the same passion and curiosity she brought to apparel. Each wine variety is unique and has a story. Equally important, all are made from grapes grown organically and biodynamically, produced on a small scale using traditional techniques and fermented with native yeast, without herbicides or pesticides, additives or filters.
The name of her natural wine bar, Half Rats, takes its name from a Victorian slang term meaning “tipsy.” The business concept is simple: creating a cozy community space that’s intentionally small and intimate (with 700 square feet, it can accommodate 29 people seated or 49, if some are standing). Her vintage furniture and decor reinforce the homey vibe. “I wanted to make it inviting and community-driven,” Pendergist stresses, ”but also a place that doesn’t take itself too seriously.” To that end, she’s put great care into striking the right balance and blend on all levels, from the wines she sources to the stemware and plates to the wall hangings and furniture.
If there were a code word required for entering, it would likely be ‘cozy.’ “Come in, be comfortable, don’t rush,” the walls seem to whisper. Pendergist opened the bar in late August, which she admits was “kind of a weird time” since most of the summer crowds had left. But that also made it feel like something special for locals—almost like a secret hangout. “The response from the community since the very first night has been great!” she reports. “People spread the news by word of mouth and on Instagram, encouraging others to check it out.”
It seems people have been longing for just this kind of space, where you can relax with a glass of wine without booking a reservation in advance—and where you can stay on long after the server’s handed you the check (and others are lined up waiting for a table, as often happens in the Berkshires). And in our current economic climate, not everyone can afford a full meal when going out or meeting friends.
While Pendergist takes her wine offerings and service seriously, you won’t find anything pretentious afoot. From the moment you enter, the welcome awaits at the long wooden table, tiny two-tops, dim lights, smooth music, and soft velvet cushions. The website artwork—featuring sketches of cartoon rats—was created by her friend Ethan Benarroch, a California artist. “When I told him the name, he just started doodling a bunch of rats, and they went up on the website and on the business cards soon after.” She recently added the final exterior touch—“a giant rat sign in aluminum leaf with 23k gold chompers” by Hired Hand Signs.
Answering when opportunity knocks
Regarding opening her own business, Pendergist admits the idea was already well established, but the timing came about more like an acorn. “Ian Rasch, my landlord, mentioned, ‘I have this space. You should do something with it.’ He was excited to see a young person wanting to try something new and open a cool spot, so he was willing to give me a fair rent price and take a risk on me.” (Given the business savvy she had developed over the past few years and all of her connections in the restaurant industry and broader Berkshire community, there was a good chance it would succeed.)
But although opportunity knocked, the door opened slowly. “The space became available before the full plan was in motion,” she acknowledges, “but the old BCC [Berkshire Community College] space was under construction for two or three years. While I was waiting, I had time to do the back work of finetuning my vision, applying for a liquor license, getting a loan, designing a logo, and putting all the pieces in place. I also found a long table, chairs and stools, a couch and coffee table, and began imagining how I wanted the space to look and feel. Looking back, I’m really relieved the renovations took that long. By the time the space was ready, I was also ready to go.”
Nick Speidel, who works for MVA Designs, built the bar and shelves and moved everything in. “Even though he’s not financially involved, he’s contributed so much I consider him part of the business,” Pendergist says. (“Nick built a bar and I opened it,” she joked on Instagram).
Financially, she credits Brad Felix at Lee Bank as being “really excited about the idea” and willing to give her a chance. The first bank she approached for a business loan wanted to see more savings, but Felix assured her, “This is why you’re asking for a loan,” adding that it made him happy to work with small businesses.
“It was a stressful process to get ready to open, but I had so many people helping me that it wasn’t scary. I just jumped in and figured things out—and honestly, I feel like I’m still learning as I go,” she continues. “I gained a lot of valuable experience working at Prairie Whale and especially managing for the past two years and seeing the back end, how it all works—which definitely helped.”
Moreover, Pendergist credits Mark Firth [proprietor of Prairie Whale] with sharing valuable insights and feedback along the way. “I’m so grateful to Mark for inspiring my love of natural wine and introducing me to specific ones,” she says, noting the mentoring and education she gained over the past eight years. Rather than focusing on a particular region, she offers a range of intriguing wines from around the world, as well as local and regional crowd pleasers that are more well-known.
Like many business owners in the Berkshires, she feels “extremely lucky to have a lot of people behind me, willing to help. All of my friends and the surrounding community have been very supportive.” As she shared her vision with people she encountered, the responses were genuinely excited. “It was very refreshing being told, ‘Let us know what you need,’” she acknowledges.
Long-term plans
Given that intimacy is the primary note at this wine bar, Pendergist is determined to remain small and true to her vision. “I love food, and being served food, but I didn’t want to make or serve food here, so I’ve kept things simple—small nibbles like truffle chips, anchovies and olives, local cheeses, corn nuts. I only use one food distributor (Dairy Land),” Pendergist says, adding that patrons are welcome to bring in the food they want to eat and snack as they would at home, while enjoying a new setting. This kind of simplicity allows her to do what matters most—recommend the right drink, make generous pours, and engage with people.
That said, special events are also on the menu. For example, Pendergist hosted the first annual Half Rats Pumpkin Carving Party in late October, inviting customers to carve their pumpkin and leave it over the weekend for peer judging and a chance to win a $50 gift card and (more importantly) bragging rights. Be sure to follow her Instagram account for future festivities… including a New Year’s Eve gathering “with lots of bubbles and some small plates,” wine tastings, and more. Although she isn’t currently seeking artists, she is open to adding music and small art installations down the road.
For now, she’s intent on creating an ambience that fosters community. “The other night, a woman came in alone, and two other women sat down next to her at the bar. Soon, they all moved to the couch area. Because it’s so small, things like that naturally happen,” she relays. “On Sunday night, four people came in together. Each ordered a different wine. While they were hanging out, they started tasting each other’s wines and comparing notes. It was very intimate.”
She has also recently added two new wines to the list—“a bright and crisp northern Italian Friulano with notes of apple and pear and a French Carignan that’s sturdy and inviting with lots of bright red fruit and wild herbs.” Sip and savor a glass of either, paired with Cana de Cabra goat cheese, accompanied by crackers, figs, and honey.
The most rewarding thing about this adventure? “The whole thing feels really good, like a big ‘wow,’” she admits, stressing how nice it’s been to watch it evolve. “Lots of people have told me, ‘We really needed this!’ As a person, this is what I would want, and I’m happy to have done that for other people.” No fuss, just a really good wine bar and a welcoming space.
So while you’re running around town getting ready for the holidays, treat yourself to a peaceful pause on the velvet chair in the back corner. Come alone and enjoy a glass of something you love, or meet/make friends, and let the time and the traffic pass slowly for a change. It’s the kind of self-care we all deserve—and could use—right now.
Half Rat is open Wednesday 4-9 p.m., Thursday to Saturday 4-10 p.m., and Sunday 4-9 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday,
