Greene County Success Stories

FELLOW Café Showcases the Best of the Area in Hunter, NY — February 10, 2021

Marc Chodock is passionate about welcoming a new generation of year-round urban explorers to the beautiful Great Northern Catskill Mountains. As managing partner of Escape Hospitality, he promotes destination communities in the town of Hunter to an ever-growing number of creative people making their way to the area. His newest property at 7883 Main Street (in the heart of the village) is a place to eat-in or take-away, sample local fare, or even log-on to a video conference while enjoying a hand-crafted coffee.

Holiday Pop Up Success Leads to Ongoing Brick & Mortar Retail in Catskill, NY — December 1, 2020

Prior to this past September, Katie Hartsough marketed her curated selection of sustainable home products on-line at KaaterskillMarket.com and around Great Northern Catskills at farmers markets and craft fairs. MaryJo Murphy sold her husband Mike’s Catskill Mountain Woodworking much the same way. But when a 3-month lease became available on a cozy storefront at the heart of the Downstreet Catskill business community, the pair chose to try their hands at traditional retail – at least for the 2020 Holiday Shopping Season.

Greene County Native Opens Toy & Kids Accessories Store in the Historic Reed Street section of Coxsackie, NY — November 16, 2020

Walk into Mahalo Kid and Baby on Reed Street in Coxsackie, and you will be enamored by the store’s whimsy personality and bright energy. It is impressive for any business owner to open in a global pandemic, but Tara Templeton is no stranger to the owning a retail store.

New Personal Services Business Opens Successfully in Catskill, NY Amidst COVID Restrictions — October 22, 2020

Sandy Dylak wanted to bring cryotherapy to the mainstream market after it improved her own life. She chose the name “Catskill Cryo” before deciding on the location next to Village Pizza on Main Street in Catskill. She planned to open in April but then COVID-19 hit, along with the NYS Restrictions imposed to combat the pandemic. While waiting for the region to enter Phase 3 Re-opening, she made capital investments fine-tuned her go-to-market strategy.

Remote Workers Create Real Estate Boom in Greene County, NY — September 18, 2020

It’s no secret that upstate New York’s real estate industry is booming. The pandemic has caused people to leave urban areas in record numbers, and as more and more companies move to a remote workforce, their employees are forgoing the high rents and taxes downstate in favor of a more rural (and affordable) location – giving rise to the trending phrase “Zoom-Town”.

Opening a Craft Cidery Community Destination in Catskill, NY — August 19, 2020

When the old Bottle Shop moved into the former Central Hudson building between Main and Water Streets the term “artisanal cider” was not in everyone’s vocabulary. Fast forward to July 2020, and the newly restored basement entrance leads to Left Bank Ciders in Catskill.

Tannersville, NY Destination Business Makes it out on Top after COVID Shutdown — July 21, 2020

TANNERSVILLE N.Y. – For over 40 years, Last Chance Antiques & Cheese Café has been a neighborhood staple for locals and tourists alike. Second generation owner, David Kashman, grew up helping his parents at the restaurant and eventually took over as an owner.

Reopening In-store Retail in Greenville, NY — June 18, 2020

In December of 2017, Laura & Jeremy Dresdner opened up Quirky Market to sell custom handmade goods. Originally, their business model was to sell crochet items, handmade jewelry, and paintings. When naming the business, Dresdner knew not to limit her creativity.

Re-Inventing a Specialty Pet Accessory Business in Athens, NY — May 26, 2020

Four years ago, Catherine Whiteman’s love for her Brittany Spaniels inspired her to start a business out of her home in Athens, New York. Three Wags opened in 2016 creating quality and domestically made pet accessories that she felt confident in. Like many small business owners during COVID-19 however, Whiteman faced some new challenges.

Transportation Services Business Provides Vital Assistance in Coxsackie, NY — April 19, 2020

Since COVID-19, Greene County has seen a lot of changes, but the community is still strong. While our schools are temporarily closed due to the public health crisis, school districts and a local business owner have come together to ensure students are still getting breakfast and lunch. This was especially a concern for those students who had been receiving free or reduced-cost meals while attending school.