Greene County Success Stories

Catskill Collectibles — Turning a Passion into an Online Lifestyle Business in Greene County, NY — November 1, 2018

Tom Illari began coming upstate to Greene County during the heyday of Catskill Mountain vacation getaways. While spending time hiking and enjoying the natural splendor that has intrigued and awed visitors since the early 1800s, his passion for collecting memorabilia grew and grew. Fast forward fifty years, and Catskill Collectibles has become not only an online revenue stream for this retiring CFO, but a way to connect with people from across the country – sharing great memories of the Catskills.

Century-Old, Family-Owned State Tel Launches High-Speed Fiber Optics in Athens, NY — November 1, 2018

On December 31, 1909 the telecommunications industry was in its early years in Greene County. On that date, State Telephone Company was incorporated with 7 directors each subscribing to one share of an amalgamation of several rural and ‘farmers’ lines (small operations that strung wire from farm to farm) and connected them to a switch in a nearby village. Phone service was relegated to limited hours of operation because that switchboard was often not staffed 24 hours a day. Fast forward 108 years, and the connectivity demands of State Tel customers would be hardly recognizable (albeit fascinating) to its founders.

Glen Falls House: Revitalization Creates a 4-Season Destination in Round Top, NY — October 17, 2018

In May of 2017, Jonathan Pico and Greg Brier were on a mission: Revitalize a 130-year-old farmstead (turned Catskill Mountain Boarding House in the 1940s) into a new destination while preserving the classic charm and energy of the space, creating an excellent experience for guests and providing exceptional service.

The Vineyard at Windham – A Taste, Play, and Stay Destination — October 10, 2018

Danielle LaForte and her husband share a passion for exploring new wines with friends and family. Just over a year ago, they joined with a partner to create a comfortable and inviting space that provides visitors with a unique opportunity to taste best-rated wines from their vineyard, as well as those from the most well-known wine producing regions across New York State.

Shoofly: Children’s Shoes & Accessories – A Magical Pop-Up Shop in Downstreet Catskill, NY — August 24, 2018

Step into 358 Main Street in the village of Catskill and you’ll be transported to a world of wonder. Shoofly (formerly a teeny star from NYC for 30 years with locations on the Upper West Side and Tribeca), has relocated to the Downstreet Business Community. Inside you will find deeply discounted children’s shoes from major European companies and whimsical accessories and toys.

The Woodhouse Lodge: Creative Professionals Build a New Destination in Greenville, NY — July 24, 2018

Megan Pflug and her husband Jay Penry share a vision: Build a sustainable space to live and work together, in a place they love. Now this vision is realized in The Woodhouse Lodge.

The Evolution of the Farmers’ Market Across Greene County, NY — July 13, 2018

Market Day has been a weekly event common to village cultures for hundreds (if not thousands) of years. Growers, Makers and Producers would bring their wares to a central hub to meet, greet, buy, sell, and trade. It’s a fundamental concept in human civilization. The personal connections people made at markets went far beyond just acquiring goods – it served as time to experience new things, meet old friends, make new friends, hear the latest news, find out what your neighbors were up to, and exchange views.

Re-defining ‘Family’ in Family Resorts: The Next Generation Comes of Age in East Durham, NY — June 26, 2018

East Durham, NY has been a community where ‘families welcomed families’ for nearly 100 years. During the decades following WWII, tens of thousands of moms, dads, aunts, uncles, and cousins flocked north from NYC, Long Island, and New Jersey to experience natural beauty and hospitality at the foot of the Great Northern Catskill Mountains.

A Tale of Two Storefronts – Mahalo and Coldwell Banker Village Green Realty in Catskill, NY — May 25, 2018

Maureen (Mo) Sullivan Kinch had been out of real estate for a while when she bought a relatively well-established downstreet gift shop with a fiercely loyal following of returning visitors. Mahalo was (and is) the embodiment of the ‘Unique-Boutique-Magnifique’ shopping experience revitalizing small town destinations throughout the Hudson Valley.

Sustaining a Gardeners’ Destination for Over 60 years in Freehold, NY — April 18, 2018

Heading west on Greene County Route 67 from the hamlet of Freehold, NY, you’ll see the Catskill Creek on your left as you pass the local airstrip just before arriving at Story’s Nursery – growing since 1956. Started by George Story when Eisenhower was POTUS, the business quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, bedding plants and greenhouse crops.