Entrepreneurs undeterred by weak economy
Several new businesses springing up in village
The Daily Mail
June 13, 2009

CATSKILL — Catskill is alive and well, according to Village President Vincent Seeley.

Seeley said several new enterprises in the Village show that the economic downturn has not deterred entrepreneurs from making Catskill their home.

“People still believe in Catskill as a viable business opportunity,” he said Monday.

Seeley said his phone has been the businest it has been in five years with calls from potential business owners.

New business ventures featuring food include ice cream shop Spoon Me, on Main Street, under the same ownership of the adjacent MOD Cafe, Frank Guido’s Port of Call, also on Main Street, near the Catskill Point, Souper Sammies, on West Bridge Street, and River Street Bakers, on Brandow’s Alley.

The bakery and Wayne’s World Video, which opened on West Bridge Street earlier this spring, will celebrate their grand openings today.

Herz and Mine Treasure Chest, on Main Street, also recently opened for business.

Seeley said he has worked to attract niche businessees, like Main Street’s Somersault Woods gallery and shop, which also recently opened.

He hopes that a store selling beer will soon come to the former Eckert building, on Route 9W.

“That will clean up that corner,” he said.

He said the new owners, who run a Hampton Inn in Kingston, have begun the site plan review process with the Village Planning Board.

Seeley is also working with a local doctor to open an urgent care facility on Lincoln Place.

Seeley said the lack of accessible medical services is the biggest problem with health care in the area.

“That is going to be a great addition to meeting our health care needs,” he said.

And finally, Seeley is looking for interested owners to open a resturant in the former Firehouse Taven, also on Main Street. The building is being fixed up by the film crew for use in the movie “Meskada.”

“That will be restaurant-ready,” he said.

He said the Catskill Revitalization Action Team is still working hard on plans and proposals for areas along the Catskill Creek waterfront. While Seeley did not say how certain parcels would be used, he suggested that an area at the end of Church Street could make a good depot for a new trolley-bodied bus service in Catskill.

Seeley said other improvements to the Village include new picnic tables and grills at Dutchmen’s Landing.

He said the Village is installing four security cameras at the park to ensure safety.

Recently, ropes were cut at a new fishing dock there and flowers have been pulled out from urns along Main Street and some urns have been knocked over.

Police officers have been reviewing security tapes as part of an investigation into the vandalism acts, Police Chief David Darling said. He and Village Trustee James Chewens warned that any individual caught vandalizing property will be prosecuted.

Chewens said at a meeting of the Village Board that he was tired of hearing about the damage, which he thinks is perpetuated by only a few people.

“If you get caught, I am going to pursue it to the fullest extent of the law,” Chewens said. “We are not kidding.”