The Dancing Cat Saloon, near the entrance to Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts, is adding another notch in the Borscht Belt.
Corned beef and pastrami sandwiches are on its menu, but joined by an eclectic array of edible offerings and topped off with a selection of craft beers and local wines. The indoor ambience is complemented by an outdoor dining area, where patrons can enjoying the sun setting over Bethel Woods.
Owner Monte Sachs said he and his wife, Stacey Cohen, found the right combination for the former farm they bought in 2008: a restaurant with space for local musicians to strut their stuff ”“ Cohen is one of them ”“ and the soon-to-open Catskill Distilling Co. just a few steps away.
Sachs”™ investment in a top-quality distillery ”“ one which will offer patrons a tasting room complete with a bar Sachs said was rescued from the 1939 World”™s Fair in New York City ”“ is set to be completed by October. He plans to make vodka, whiskey, grappa and gin and is considering adding absinthe and fruit liqueurs to the distillery”™s offerings.
Sachs said local farmers will supply the grains he”™ll need for his new venture. “The goal is to build our own local economy. We can”™t count on anyone doing it for us. We have to do it ourselves. This whole concept of ”˜buying local”™ isn”™t just a cute saying. We need to do this to save ourselves and our communities.”
A veterinarian and the doctor on call for Monticello Raceway, Sachs doesn”™t think that casino gambling will be the holy grail that will “save” Sullivan County.
“Allan Gerry has invested a fortune in and around the original Woodstock festival site. I don”™t think casino gambling is going to save the Catskills,” said Sachs ”“ sitting with Nicolas Haase, director of sales for Christian Carl Distilleries, who helped Sachs choose the right equipment for his new venture ”“ and talking over pastrami sandwiches.
Sachs sees the area around Bethel Woods suited for artists, musicians and craftspeople, since Woodstock “took place right here, and the area is overdue for something new, especially since we have a world-class concert venue as its epicenter.”
As far as what he and his wife have brought to Bethel, Sachs said: “This whole endeavor truly became a labor of love. Originally, we thought we were just going to build the distillery. There was this old farmhouse on the property, and it was Stacey”™s idea to gut it and turn it into a restaurant and a place for musicians to gather. It took a lot of sweat equity and sometimes I was cursing myself for doing it. But she was right. It”™s turned out to be a wonderful addition to the area and a great place for local artists to play.”
Dancing Cat Saloon has proved to be a hit with locals and visitors, particularly when there is an event at Bethel Woods. “Yes, it definitely helps us to be located so close to the Art Center”™s entrance, but during the week, when there isn”™t anything going on at the concert site, people are finding their way here to enjoy the food and listen to the musicians who come to play.”
Sachs said Gerry”™s investment in the area is eventually going to turn the sagging Catskills around, but in a different direction than others have proposed.
“I really believe in a few years we”™re all going to be pleasantly surprised to find the area will have a rebirth, but not one that focuses on casino gambling. I think it”™s time Sullivan County started taking advantage of the history that happened here and build on it, bringing their talent here and growing our own arts and crafts colony,” Sachs said.
“I”™m really excited about opening the distillery and Nick (Haase) has been a wonderful mentor when it came to helping me choose the necessary equipment.”
“People do enjoy seeing how liquors are made and buying local,” Sachs said. “And we understand we are going to have to rebuild our own economies if we”™re going to survive. No one”™s coming to ”˜rescue”™ us. The Sullivan County IDA and the town of Bethel have been great partners to us in this endeavor. I think, like everyone else, they are ready to see employment go up and for the area to get a healthy dose of renewed vitality.”
