Monticello benefits from new businesses Updated Nov 4, 2014 at 1:24 AM MONTICELLO - Three new stores in the past three months have moved into the downtown area, which had hardly seen any new business in the last several years. All of the new owners say they came to this village with many empty storefronts to fill a need - either to cater to a particular population or to simply provide more options to residents. One of those is Fat Boiz restaurant on Liberty Street, which opened Sept. 13. Owner Porfirio Vega, who goes by Juni, said he wanted to help students from SUNY Sullivan in Loch Sheldrake - about 15 minutes away - looking to get some late night food. He says theyve delivered to the campus until 4:30 a.m. But he also wanted to provide an outlet for the Latino community in the village. There are a couple people who try doing (Puerto Rican food), but it wouldnt pass the authentic test, Vega said. The restaurant offers meals like pastillo - or beef empanadas - and pernil - or roast pork. It joins other new businesses such as Soy - an Asian-fusion restaurant on Broadway - and Garcias, a grocery store offering items from Central and South America. Vega said he has been welcomed by some business owners in the village. Moe Abdelarzeki, owner of Broadway Pizza, which opened earlier this year, is one of them. Abdelarzeki said any new business helps the existing ones. He pointed to Garcias next door. When it opened, it brought more foot traffic past his store. Its good, but I want it to continue, Abdelarzeki said. Its good for everybody. Leo Garcia, owner of Garcias, said residents have been pleased since he opened his store. But he also echoed Abdelarzekis sentiment that more business in the village is good for his. Were going to help out each other, Garcia said. While new shops are good, there needs to be a bigger business in the community to help keep the local businesses thriving, according to Sullivan County Partnership CEO Marc Baez. That bigger business could be a new casino. Its the start of something different, Baez said. The county bottomed out and its on its way back. Porfirio Juni Vega stands in front of his store, Fat Boiz, in Monticello. The store, which serves Puerto Rican-style food, opened Sept. 13 and is one of the newest businesses on Broadway.Andrew Beam/Times Herald-Record |
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 19:18:19 +0000
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