Comment

Comment by Hollis Bogdanffy-Kriegh on April 18, 2012 at 9:32pm

Thanks Charlie. That is exactly my point. I don't drive, so, naturally anything that improves the shopping on Main St. is going to be desirable for me. I DONT WANT to drive all the way to Fishkill to shop. It is my opinion that the BNM and Key Food can do better to meet the needs of a changing demographic in Beacon. As i mentioned Beaconis a different place thanit was 10 years ago, they might be more successful today.

As regards the food pantry, there is a group involved in trying to get that started. They can be found here on BCN and they are some of the same folks who are involved with the Common Ground CSA, of which my husband and I are huge supporters. I support the coop effort and hope that it gets off the ground. There are also cooking classes listed on BCN. I believe the current one is for Bistro cooking. No need to reinvent the wheel, Beacon has it!

Comment by Jennifer Tavolacci on April 18, 2012 at 4:25pm

those interested in the co-op could get together and create something small that grows with community support.  i plan on researching this further, talking with co-ops that are successful and people in beacon who would like to see this idea become a reality. 

on an unrelated tangent - i'm new to the area.  is there a community center where cooking workshops are done?  cooking classes and workshops elsewhere?

Comment by Hollis Bogdanffy-Kriegh on April 18, 2012 at 3:51pm

I should mention that while I really like the idea of a food coop for Beacon; I don't think it will fly until you can prove that people are willing to give up their addiction to driving out to the highway for every little thing. Change is difficult and this is one change that I do think is happening slowly. But making a food coop popular will require a major effort to bring people back from Walmart, Shop Rite and other big box stores.

Comment by Hollis Bogdanffy-Kriegh on April 18, 2012 at 3:36pm

Interesting thread. We have been here six years. Main St. Is a LOT better now than it was 6 years ago. Natural selection is doing its part to determine which businesses will survive here. We are lucky to have businesses like Homespun, the Coffee shoppe, Beacon Bagel, Artisan Wine, Little Boys, the Barkery etc. In the midst of a major recession, it is a kind of miracle. What else would I like to see here? Well, with the Beacon Theater on its way back, the Hop and the new Beacon Creamery opening, I feel that most of my dreams have come true. But, we do need a butcher a fish market and much better produce readily available. I think we could be much better served by Beacons two grocery stores , Key Food and the Beacon Natural Market. Both of these stores seem to think that they are catering to a captive market. Key has very high prices for premium products even though staples are cheaper. Plus their facility is a dump. They made an effort to clean it up somewhat a couple of years ago but they could do a lot more. The BNM is competing directly with Natures Pantry and their prices are easily 25% more. Their produce section is terrible and their merchandise selection is unreliable. Natures Pantry on Rt. 52 in Fihkill, by comparison is a lot cleaner, well lit, has a lovely local produce section and carries Beacons All You Knead bread, Feather Ridge eggs and Hudson Valley Dairy products. They always have the same merchandise when you go back week after week and they are never crowded, which is the problem with Adams. Adams has the best meat and fish in the area plus they are a local business. They have even started carrying Beacon made Tas Kafé. BNM and Key would do better if they would just show some civic pride and make a more concerted effort to compete for the business to be had in town. I don't know why in 6 years there has not been more effort expended by the management of these two establishments to attempt to retain clientele. It is clear from the other types of businesses that are coming to Main St. that they could capture much more business if they would just evaluate the competition and try to give shoppers what they are going elsewhere for. Trust me, I would much rather stroll Main St. doing my chores, chatting with neighbors, friends and shop keepers, rather than wasting gasoline driving all over creation to three or four grocery stores.

Comment by Joan Martorano on April 8, 2012 at 8:13am

Tom, I didn't know that about the liquor store law.  How archaic!

Comment by Tom Church on April 7, 2012 at 8:47am

Also David, keep in mind RE wine and liquor...they are required to close at 7pm as per county laws.

Comment by Tom Church on April 7, 2012 at 8:46am

Just a quick note on the closing early thing since it seems to come up here every so often...we close at 7 on most nights and honestly we are lucky to get a single customer after 6pm during a week.  We used to be open until 8 one night for commuters and after about a year we realized that we had less than a dozen total sales after 7pm.  I know there are some who get home later but it just dosen't pay to keep the lights on and pay employees to stay past 6 or 7.                  

Comment by Jennifer Tavolacci on April 6, 2012 at 6:04pm

hmmm guy... i guess whatever i was "smokin" was pretty good stuff.  i don't feel so stupid for mentioning the co-op after all. 

i would really like to collaborate on this idea further with anyone interested in making this dream a reality.  food prices are climbing right along with gas/oil, so cutting costs anywhere we can will be essential.

Comment by sc on April 6, 2012 at 5:19pm

FYI...This article is back from 1989..I used to live in this area.  Pleasantville is hardly Podunk..and this was there for many many years......Pleasantville, N.Y., the Way of Life Natural Foods Co-op has moved into larger quarters at 503A Bedford Road (at Pleasantville Road). To celebrate, there will be tastings and cooking demonstrations through Oct. 14.

This co-op, which began as a food-buying club in a member's home in the late 1960's, has grown to nearly 1,000 members. It is a well-stocked store carrying a large variety of foods, including organic produce, and household products. The tastings are open to the public, but only members may shop in the co-op.

The annual membership fee is $15, and members must contribute some time to the organization. Those who cannot give time must pay a 15 percent surcharge on purchases. A one-month trial membership is $1.50.

Comment by David Balogh on April 6, 2012 at 11:18am

To that point, we have an astonishing trend of stores closing EARLY during the week. I mean, are these people MAD???! I generally work from home, but commute to NYC sometimes (and used to everyday). I wouldn't get home till 7-7:30. Do you think I can get anything done on Main St. at that time? Not much, maybe a wine store and restaurants. Businesses fail when they don't understand their clientele.

As far as locals using Main as a thru street to 9, we should be encouraging traffic to Verplanck or 9D via Teller more. Not ideal considering the neighborhoods and schools, but they already see a fair amount of traffic.

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