David York is turning North Adams into a city for "dog people."

The Berkshire Eagle was there and reported dozens of men, women, children and a few canines toured the Museum of Dog during its grand opening Saturday, checking out an extensive collection of antique dog collars dating to the 1700s and marveling at pieces of a Jeep Wrangler that York's 11-year-old Weimaraner, Daisy, has destroyed.

As families toured the main gallery, located in the former Quinn's Wallpaper and Paint building on Union Street, they struck up conversations with other visitors about their own dogs.

York, who grew up in Memphis, Tenn., and started his career developing private-label merchandise, including the Aeropostale brand, has loved dogs all of his life.

York opened Barking Hound Village, a chain of doggie day care and boarding facilities.

Opening the museum in North Adams allowed York to display all of his pieces of canine-related art, including a bulldog pop art piece by Marc Tetro that hung in the Central Perk coffee shop on the set of "Friends."

The museum also features rotating exhibits.

The museum isn't the end to York's work in North Adams.

He recently leased the former Brewhaha on Marshall Street and expects to open a restaurant, Bowlin on the River, along with two food trucks to be located at riverside parking and near the Massachusetts Museum of

Contemporary Art, York said.The restaurant's patio will, of course, be dog-friendly.

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