Previous Success Stories

In 2018, Anne Stowell and her husband moved to Ashland and quickly fell in love with the people, the landscape, and the spirit of the Catskills. When she saw a beautiful old church building become available in the hamlet of Hensonville, she decided to open her dream business.Read More

Grace Brannigan created 27 Cafe as a space dedicated to a shared experience of listening. Inspired by the Jazz Kissa of Japan (where people gathered to drink coffee, tea and alcohol and listen to records on a hi-fi sound system) 27 Cafe has updated that model for a modern audience while maintaining the soul of its predecessors.Read More

Life-long knitters May Elbaz-Belschner and Zairi Malcolm share a passion for all things fiber and expressing their creativity together.  After opening their first location in Windham in 2018, they have now established a second in yet another Greene County Mountain Town.  The Knitting Room in Tannersville is a true destination for supplies, advice, collaboration, and community.Read More

When the beloved Nellie’s restaurant hit the market, Irish immigrant and long-time East Durham enthusiast Mike Reilly saw a chance to invest in a community he’s cherished for decades. Now reopened as Reilly’s Bar & Restaurant, the venue continues its legacy as a lively Irish pub, complete with live music, special events, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.Read More

For over 25 years, Dori Fackler has dreamed of opening a wine bar in a small town, on a historic Main Street and in a historic building. When a space became available on Main Street, Catskill in 2024, Dori made her dreams a reality.Read More

The third year of destination events amidst beautiful blooms and scenic views is already logging huge successes as Meadowbrook Farm expands its offerings with even more opportunities to gather, wander, and enjoy local food, crafts, entertainment, and of course, flowers!Read More

The Avalon Lounge (located at 29 Church Street in the Village of Catskill) is well known as a place for friends to gather for drinks, dance, and eclectic live music. Avalon’s three interconnected spaces (upstairs & downstairs) provide patrons with perfect purviews for celebration and conversation. Add homestyle Korean food favorites to the mix, and you’ve got a terrific treat for all the senses.  Read More

For young adults that like to work with their hands, want to avoid college debt and fast-track their career, working in the trades is a viable option. Columbia-Greene Community College’s Construction Technology program, established in 2019, gives students the opportunity to learn all the ins and outs of construction, including framing, siding, roofing, basic plumbing and electrical to door and window installation.Read More

Every morning at the corner of Ross Ruland Road and County Route 23B, motorists converge at the South Cairo Country Store to gas up, grab a coffee, a buttered hard roll, and whatever else helps them start their day.  Customers continuously flow through leading up to another rush as folks make their way home from work.  Cars pull in, and trucks pull out, and sometimes there are some close calls and sudden stops.  All that is about to change as this destination relocates down the street to its new facility.Read More

Since moving upstate during the pandemic, Patty Wu and her husband have opened not one but two restaurants in Tannersville. The newest addition, Lucky Catskills, pays homage to Patty’s Taiwanese heritage.Read More

After growing her own wedding flowers, Jessica Cahill discovered she had a passion for floral design. Over the next 5 years, she completely changed careers and opened her own business in Greene County.Read More

Less than a week after opening, The Art Hub on Main Street, Cairo, has already sold out two art classes.Read More