The Dig, which is sneaking up on its one year anniversary, is one of those rare pandemic silver linings. Open since August 2020 on Millerton’s Main Street, this cafe and provisions market offers fresh smoothies, juices, crepes, and an ever-changing menu of seasonal dishes. But more than just a food hub, The Dig has become a hub for the work of local artists as well as a community gathering place, hosting food-themed events featuring traditional dishes made by locals, live music, and artist pop-ups.
Last year, when Katja Schultz and her husband learned that Millerton Mercantile would be closing in April, they were sad to see it go. Living in town, they had regularly stopped by to stock up on eggs, milk, and coffee. Friends of Shultz’s, the owners of Millerton Mercantile were the ones that encouraged her to launch the Dig and fill the hole left by their market.
The Dig still sells pantry staples like bread and butter like its predecessor but has expanded beyond the market concept to include a raw juice and smoothie bar, sweet and savory crepes on weekends, and a daily changing breakfast and lunch menu. When asked about the menu, Schultz replies with, “have you ever seen the TV show ‘Midnight Diner?’” One of their clients likened The Dig to the show, in which a diner owner has one item on the menu and improvises with the rest. “It’s whatever we have around, and we build on that,” she says. Customers can come in and create their own dishes, and the great ones end up on the menu. “It’s always evolving. And we keep it seasonal, which means we have to be creative. The seasons change, and so does the food.”
Katja and her husband had never run a business before, nor did they have any food industry chops—Katja is a speech-language pathologist by trade, not a chef. She took inspiration from her friends in the neighborhood, who were making dishes in their own cultural traditions, and began a series of events to showcase their food, like Mexican tamales or northeast Chinese lamb rice.
After eight years in Millerton, she and her husband were ready for some more culinary variety, and hosting pop-up events at the Dig turned out to be a way to provide it. “It was cool to present another way of looking at cuisine that we’re less familiar with, and highlighting people who make really incredible foods,” says Schultz. They also roped in their friends at The Music Cellar, and now The Dig has live tunes every weekend.
Schultz wants The Dig to be a community hotspot as well as an eatery and artist gallery. “The most important piece for our store is to bring a unique perspective to local community, creating an open space where everyone has a place,” she says. “It’s so rare to find a town and a place that can welcome everyone on the map. So we’re hoping to encourage that.”
The Dig is open Tuesday-Thursday, 7-11am, and Friday-Monday, 9am-4pm.
The Dig
3 Main Street, Millerton, NY 12546
(518) 592-1210
