Geeks who drink, rejoice! The Hudson Valley is about to get another bookstore/bar. In March, Jenifer Flynn and Lani Ricozzi will throw open the doors to Barking Goose Bookstore Bar and Cafe in Newburgh. At their North Plank Road location, you’ll be able to pair a craft brew or a fine wine with the tactile interaction of an actual book and the fun of real-world social interaction. For some of us, that’s about as perfect a night out as you can get.
Barking Goose is just the latest in the growing Venn diagram meeting of bar and books. A selection of new releases, a touch of alcohol to lubricate the conversation and spark the literary imagination, et voila! “People crave intelligent local neighborhood social experiences," Flynn says. "We want to bring them that.” Bookstore bars are trending nationwide, mostly in larger cities; but as far as rural regions go, the Hudson Valley’s been ahead of the curve ever since Spotty Dog Books and Ale opened in Hudson in 2005.
“It’ll be a casual community kind of place with really good craft beer, wine and cider, good coffee, and small eats like chili, sliders and tacos,” says Flynn. “Nothing fancy—a hangout. We’re very much inspired by Rough Draft Bar & Books, in Kingston. You’ll be able to enjoy a book and a drink, but it won’t really feel like a bar-type scene." Like Rough Draft, families will be welcome in the laidback, lowkey environment.
Ricozzi grew up in Hopewell Junction and moved to Orange County when she was 21. Working retail she dreamed of opening her own place one day. Flynn, a Buffalo native and Hudson Valley resident for 30 years, has seven years of experience managing an indie bookstore. “People love books,” she says. “Just the tactile experience, the feel of them, the
smell of them. And they love going to a bookstore to pick out a book; that’s why independent bookstores are thriving.” Barking Goose will host trivia nights, book discussion nights, game nights, puzzle nights, and whatever else folks may be hankering for. “We’ll just see where it takes us,” Flynn says. “We’re very much open to suggestions.”
The fanciful name honors the couple’s assertive Chihuahua, Goose. Their logo, designed by Ricozzi’s son, is the pup’s silhouette. The location, in a little plaza right off Route 84, is being fitted with a bar and bookshelves made from reclaimed wood by Highland designer/carpenter Bonnie S. Gulden of Spatial Issues. “Being a highly visible location with a super-helpful landlord and a topnotch designer, we couldn’t be more excited,” says Flynn. “I can’t wait to fill the place with fresh new books and local craft beverages and make everybody welcome.”
Keep up with the progress and be notified of the grand opening by following the Barking Goose Bookstore Bar on Facebook or Instagram.
16 N Plank Road, Suite 102-3
Newburgh, NY 12550