He holds the community element of his store in very high regard. Fliegel chuckles while knowingly leaving 60 Main’s front door unlocked to show the upstairs studio space to a visiting artist. “I haven’t been ripped off yet,” he chuckles. “When I get ripped off then I’ll be uncomfortable.”
The inherent close-knit atmosphere of this two-block community encourages a certain amount of trust and a special kind of relationship among neighbors. “The cast of characters you grow up with in a small town—when we need each other we all pull together,” says Ricciardella. “It’s kind of like family.”
Bartender Quick adds: “On Friday and Saturday I usually end up driving a few people home. I don’t want to see anyone getting hurt.”
City life is distant in Phoenicia considering its rustic atmosphere and colorful cast. However businesses are lively, tourists are socially active and full-time residents consider their respective places in the community to be of importance. Pillard says that he “impact[s] a small community in a positive way” when catering to Phoenicia’s blend of inhabitants. “You play an important part of the vibrancy of the community.”
REOURCES
The Arts Upstairs www.artsupstairs.com
Babytoes Clothing www.babytoes.com
Belleayre Mountain www.belleayre.com
Brio’s www.brios.net
Catskill Mountain Railroad www.catskillmtrailroad.com
Emerson Resport & Spa www.emersonplace.com
Empire State Railway Museum www.esrm.com
Homer and Langley’s Mystery Spot www.mysteryspotantiques.com
Hunter Mountain www.huntermtn.com
Ricciardella’s www.brios.net/Ricciardella
Sweet Sue’s (845) 688-7852
The Tender Land Home www.tenderlandhome.com
Town of Shandaken www.shandaken.us
Town Tinker Tube Rental www.towntinker.com
