More than two centuries after the Revolutionary War, looking east from the corner of Liberty Street and East Parmenter in Newburgh, one glimpses Washington’s Headquarters and the Hudson River corridor once guarded by cannons and the Great Chain that blocked British warships. At the river’s edge then, as today, great blue herons display their fishing prowess. Here, Newburgh’s place in history was secured.
Today, turn westward and you’ll find the relocated and expanded Downstate Coffee in a freshly painted, butter-yellow brick building. The café debuted its new digs last week to an overjoyed crowd of regulars who had missed its former Lander Street location since its August closure.
At Downstate’s original location on Lander Street, its symbols—the great blue heron, cannons, and links of the Great Chain—served not only as an homage to place but in retrospect, as a foreshadowing of the location to come. Across the wide facade of 85 Liberty Street, Downstate announces itself in simple, bold, uppercase lettering (signage done by Newburgh’s own King Street Sign Co.). Above the inset door, three painted links of chain appear almost tattooed onto the glass transom, while on the exterior brick wall, the cafe’s heron mascot stands pridefully, fresh fish in beak.
Beloved for its coffee rituals, vibrant matcha, and Mexico City-style cuisine, Downstate’s new home is built for lingering, with more seating, an expanded menu, and longer hours. “We’ve always operated with a sense of purpose,” says founder Brandon Grimila. “This move gives us the space to show what else we’re capable of, while keeping the heart of what people fell in love with—our breakfast, our lunch, our beverages, our intention. I just want to build a stage for all my homies to stand on!”
The design-driven space offers standing room, 17 indoor seats, and 36 outdoor spots for warmer weather. One side of the rectangular room features a gleaming white coffee station; opposite it, honeyed wood walls and a banquette run the length of the space. Overhead, the original pressed-tin ceiling remains, now freshly painted a soft white.
New York heavyweight roaster Parlor Coffee anchors the beverage program at Downstate, yielding a brightly acidic yet extra-smooth flat white served in to-go cups stamped with a heron, fish in beak, perched atop a cannon. One of three logos that differentiate drinks. The menu also includes standard espresso drinks from cortado to latte, plus drip, pour-over, and cold brew; as well as a range of specialty lattes, teas, and tonics.
In the kitchen, Chef Fernando Cordova turns out some of the best Mexico City-style eats north of the border. The all-day menu ranges from composed dishes like tamales, chilaquiles, and pozole to tortas, burritos, and blue-corn gorditas with a choose-your-own protein lineup that includes carnitas, achiote chicken, vegan mushroom chorizo, chorizo, and barbacoa.
Local ingredients, intentional sourcing, and respect for tradition shine through nixtamalized tortillas, silky tamales, and bright, piquant salsas made creamy with Oaxacan queso, cotija, and avocado. Nearly everything can be topped with an egg; all of it is well-seasoned, fragrant, generous in portion, and thoughtfully priced between $6 and $14. Pastries, including conchas, arrive daily from nearby La Amistad Bakery, a family-run business baking in Newburgh since 1997.
Downstate’s subhead, Where all are welcome, is more than a slogan. It reflects Newburgh’s place in American history and its present-day mashup. Grimila, who calls Newburgh “the best place I’ve ever lived,” feels a responsibility to the city and is committed to helping address its food desert. In a community that is 51 percent Hispanic, 24 percent Black, and 22 white white, Downstate’s opening-weekend crowd mirrored the city itself. The team takes particular pride when diners with Mexican heritage recognize Cordova’s cooking as “the simple food I grew up with.”
The past few years have been pivotal for the Hudson Valley, marking a new era of Newburgh’s significance, one our founding father would surely see as both vibrant and delicious. With intentional nods to the city’s historic role and a forward-looking commitment to community, Downstate offers a warm, welcoming space for gathering over coffee and approachable food that nourishes without fuss or pretense, defined by serious craft and sincere hospitality.
“Downstate’s evolution mirrors Newburgh’s own renaissance: rooted in heritage, confidence in taste, and uninterested in compromise,” Grimila says. “It’s still a mecca for chilaquiles and a cortado but now it’s also a place to gather, stretch, and elevate your perception of food and drink the Hudson Valley.”
Go hungry, leave sated and caffeinated. Stay tuned for backyard seating in warmer weather and dinner and cocktail programs featuring chef pop-ups coming this spring.
