Greene County Success Stories

Water Street Welcomes Walking-Loop Wanderers in Catskill, NY

Water Street Welcomes Walking-Loop Wanderers in Catskill, NY

It’s been almost 3 years since the renovation and repurposing of the Black Bridge linking Water Street to West Main across the Catskill Creek. The creation of the Catskill Creek Walking-Loop coaxes pedestrians creekside and provides ample foot traffic for the growing number of businesses along its path. From Crossroads Brewing, to the Avalon Lounge, Church Street Bakery, Left Bank Cidery, Piccolo Italian Eatery, to the FORLAND Campus for Contemporary Art (Home to Willa’s Café) visitors and residents alike enjoy a wide range of food and drink options in the heart of this charming village.

Black Bridge and CrossroadsCrossroads Brewing & Catskill Taproom
One of the first microbrewers in the now vibrant Greene County Craft Beverage Community, Crossroads Brewing Company began on 2nd Street in Athens. The quality and popularity of its unique beers, ales and stouts quickly caused it to outgrow the production capacity of that space. Ken Landin and Janine Bennett expanded operation from 7 to 20 BBL with the revitalization of the old Daily Mail print shop at the east end of the Black Bridge in 2017 with the help of the Quantum Fund Loan program under the Invest in Greene initiative of the Greene County Legislature. Their ‘Humble Folk’ of Crossroads have been satisfying thirsts with ‘Bold Brews’ beside the creek ever since.

Avalon LoungeAvalon Lounge
The Avalon Lounge is a live music venue and dance club with a Korean kitchen and Soju/Sake/Beer/Wine/Cider bar. It actually has three interconnected spaces – A bar room, an upstairs lounge with additional seating and pool table, and a performance room/dance floor. Liam Singer and his wife Lara relocated from Queens back in 2016, opening HiLo Catskill on Main Street. Liam’s presence and connections in the music performance industry insures that the acts you see at either venue are world-class.

baked goodsChurch Street Bakery
This Italian-style bakery is one of the newer additions to the loop. Aside from producing their daily breads, the Church Street team offers up an amazing selection of cookies, pastries, and cakes to order.

Left Bank CideryLeft Bank Cidery
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 restored basement entrance leads to an amazing place to gather and taste. Despite the region being heavily populated by wild apple orchards, the “hard cider craze” never really made its way to Greene County, until now. Owner’s, Tim, and Anna did not want to play into the fad of ciders but instead fell into it from a passion of sustainability and hyper-locality. Open year-round, it especially appealing to watch the sun set over the creek from Left Bank Cidery’s patio seating on a mild evening.

Piccolo Italian RestaurantPiccolo Italian Restaurant
Tucked under a second floor balcony in a cozy brick restoration on the northbound side of the Water Street split, Piccolo è Molto Bene! From prima, pasta & pesce offerings to pollo, vitello, and maiale – the fare couldn’t be more authentic or delectable. Seating is limited, but it’s the perfect place for a great meal with someone special.

WillasWilla’s Bakery Café
Continuing south along the loop you enter the FORELAND campus (more on that to come) which is home to Willa’s – a neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot – plus brunch on weekends! Their food, including a rotating selection of baked goods, is made from scratch and served with care and pride. From pickles, coleslaw, and ricotta to their donuts and cinnamon buns … it’s all done in house. Willa’s uses seasonal ingredients from local farms and vendors, as much as possible – part of their commitment to supporting the community and offering the best possible products.

ForelandFORELAND
This Campus for Contemporary Art is comprised of three historic buildings including newly renovated 361 Main Street. It features exhibition spaces, artist studios, special events, and architectural magnificence. Occupancy has begun and more revitalization is underway, again with the assistance of the Invest In Greene team and the vision and passion of owner Steph Hamos. You can follow the progress of the evolution of FORELAND at the Greene County Economic Development Corporation website.

Continuing public and private investment in the revitalization of historic villages makes Greene County a special place to live, work and start a business. Pedestrian friendly infrastructure provides amazing access to our community assets.

If you want to learn more about how to Make It In Greene, check out our free helpful business guides and contact the Invest In Greene team by email or phone at 518-719-3290.

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Topics: Success Stories

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