Iconic Beacon Falls Cafe Closes After 18 Years; Chef Bob Nevelus Former Cop And ICE Enthusiast Retires With Wife Linda

After years of rumors that the Beacon Falls Cafe was looking to sell, it has finally closed. The owners, Bob and Linda Nevelus, shared on their Instagram and laminated sign posted on their door that they were retiring. “Closing the doors of the Beacon Falls Cafe is truly bittersweet. We are excited to begin this next chapter and grateful for the opportunity to slow down and enjoy retirement. At the same time, saying goodbye to a place that has been such a meaningful part of our lives is incredibly emotional.”

The announcement came on September 21th, 2026, with their projected final closing date being October 3rd. On September 28th, they were closed for staffing shortages, but picked back up for regular breakfast cooking, which regulars came back for again and again. “The Cafe has been so much more than a business to us. It has been a huge part of our lives - a place where we worked, laughed, celebrated, built friendships, and created countless memories. Over the years, so many of you walked through our doors as customers and became cherished friends and part of our extended family.” The sidewalk tables outside of the Beacon Falls Cafe were regularly packed with diners.

The owner, Bob Nevelus, is a retired police officer who pursued his dream of becoming a chef via training at CIA. He is a vocal supporter of ICE and goes by a pseudonym, Neve Bob, in Facebook, where he used to troll A Little Beacon Blog’s ICE reporting with a photo of a yellow highway sign of a man tackling another man, which says: “Watch For Falling ICE.” Because of Bob’s persistent trolling of ALBB’s Facebook page, persistent anti-DEI statements, and insults, he has been banned from ALBB’s Facebook and Instagram pages. He will remain banned, as these men tend to get more regular and verbose with more time on their hands in Retirement.

Repost of the Parking Ticket that Beacon Falls Cafe Owner got. He posted His Own Parking Ticket To Their Instagram as a Final Goodbye.

The times when Bob did express unity with ALBB was when we published about traffic and city government issues. In one of his parting messages on the Beacon Cafe’s Instagram account, he threw up a parking ticket he received in the final days of the restaurant’s Open Hours, confirming that the Beacon Police do in fact, still issue parking tickets. The Instagram account said: “My going away gift from the city of Beacon after 18 years of serving the city. a parking ticket issued four minutes before the limit. lol.”

A Realtor, Yameil Nunez, reported on the closure of the Cafe. In her report, she mentioned how longtime restaurant BJ’s Soul Food has also closed, as well as Homespun, both staples of Beacon’s Main Street. It needs to be noted that both of those businesses retired. Barbara Sims of BJ’s owned the building the restaurant was in for 47 years, and sold the building after listing it for $1.1 million. She had made investments in it over the years, with a recent renovation. Saigon Pho has opened in its place to rave reviews.

The original owners of Homespun sold the business to a new owner, who then shepherded the business through forced COVID closures, parklets, potentially selling the business, and eventually let it go when he moved on to pursue his former career of teaching. The business that is there now is Dave the Butcher, who has painted the exterior a different color.

Locally and Woman Owned HVAC Company, Shelter Air, Is Expanding

The locally and woman owned HVAC company, Shelter Air, is expanding operations. Soon, you will see another friendly green truck driving around town, servicing residences and businesses for their needs in heat pumps, electrification, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and building science. Back at headquarters, Shelter Air is creating a new office-based role supporting sales, customers, and day-to-day operations.

The new Operations and Sales Coordinator will follow up on leads, estimates, and open proposals to help close sales. They will prepare proposals and keep customer and project information organized. Helping customers is central to Shelter Air, so this person will help customers navigate rebates, incentives, and project timelines. Schedule-wise, they will schedule consultations, installations, service calls, airflow testing, and assessments.

Read the job description to see if this is a fit for you.

Restaurant Review: The Codfish Fish n Chips at Piggy Bank 2.0

It was a late summer Thursday afternoon when A Little Beacon Blog met up with Nicole of Smyle Taxes to enjoy the full crunch, extreme cheese pull mozzarella sticks at the The Piggy Bank2.0 . But we also set out to try the cornbread for the first time, and order something different from the menu at The Piggy Bank 2.0. There is a new chef in the kitchen, and that day, the special was Codfish Fish n Chips. The server was certain we would enjoy it. He needn’t explain much, as we ordered it right away. But we also pined for Sweet Tea at this BBQ spot. While Sweet Tea isn’t officially on the menu (yet), the server did mix us a glass from a fresh sugar syrup.

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The cornbread did the job, but being that we are Cornbread and Mozzarella Stick professionals, we needed to order extra butter. Which we learned was flavored with orange and was slightly sweetened. This may be the first sweetened butter we have had on Main Street, but correct us if we’re wrong in the Comments.

Now for the Codfish. It arrived in two strips. We decided to split it, being that we had all of those other carbs. But it was so soft (inside) and crunchy (outside), we ordered another order sans fries (came with fries).

We debated if they should be called Codfish Tenders or Codfish Fish n Chips, but really it didn’t matter. The meal was so satisfying, washed down with sips of that sweet tea. Hopefully the codfish will be on the Specials Menu again soon.

Fit in Piggy Bank 2.0 into your next random mid-week lunch spot any day of the week. Locals get to go any time! Enjoy that outdoor patio.

The Piggy Bank is a Member of A Little Beacon’s Business Blog Squad in the Restaurant Guide. 🌟

Located at 446 Main Street, Beacon, NY.

Open Daily.

Savage Wonder Pauses All Shows; Issues Refunds; Tribeca Art Gallery Remains Open

On Tuesday evening at 8pm, Savage Wonder announced that they would be pausing. “Yes, it’s true, we’re pausing things in Beacon,” wrote its founder Christopher Paul Meyer to the organization’s newsletter subscribers, and later, to their Instagram. “After platforming more than 175 artists, creators, and acts across more than 400 performances since we opened, we’ve created a ridiculously ambitious operational tempo, which I’d be lying if I said we weren’t incredibly proud of,” he continued. “That said, we need to figure out how to do this more sustainably. So we’re going back to the drawing board to work out how we climb that mountain better.”

All tickets were “refunded automatically and in full,” according to his letter. Performers who had booked event promotions, printed flyers and distributed them all over Beacon, returned to pick up their wasted paper and time. Media outlets like this one reached out to some of those performers to see if their shows were indeed canceled; received confirmations; and learned that performers had begun reaching out to other performance spaces to see if their shows could be absorbed into those communities and lineups.

“We have not surrendered the building and our lease has not ended,” Chris explained. “We are working through the long-term structure for Beacon now.” The building that houses Savage Wonder is at 139 Main Street, the former Star of Bethlehem Church before Rev. Daniel Blackburn sold it to local developers Joe Donovan and his wife, Jinny St. Goar for $1.25 million, under one of their firms, Hudson Todd LLC (Dutchess County Parcel Access currently lists ownership under their other firm, Lindley LLC), adding to their substantial portfolio of properties on the west end of Beacon that comprises of almost every building on the first two blocks of Main Street.

Before the church owned the building, “it was Mechanics Savings Bank, which merged six years later with Matteawan Savings Bank to become Beacon Savings Bank,” as reported here.

Savage Wonder’s Original Opening Mission

When Savage Wonder first opened, it was created as a veteran-owned creation and performative space. “Savage Wonder’s mission is to advance American performing and visual arts by developing and producing exceptional multidisciplinary work that is intimate, absurd, whimsical, or surprising, created by military and first responder veterans and their immediate family members.”

The founder’s story, from their website reads: “Savage Wonder was born when its founder, Christopher Paul Meyer, came home after 14 years of military service and multiple deployments unsure where he stood in civilian America. Theater was different. The country was different. And he was different—no longer the actor, comic, or director he had been before the military. What he wanted was a sandbox with people who shared his lived experience, a common operating picture, where veterans could turn their humor, their idiosyncrasies, and their vision into art - art that stood peer-to-peer with established venue, art that was born of a very different experiential pipeline. Out of that need, and from a phrase Meyer coined to describe the intersection of warrior and artist, Savage Wonder took shape.

“In 2021, Meyer launched Veterans Repertory Theater (VetRep) in a tiny parlor in Cornwall, NY. With just sixteen seats, the work was intimate by necessity but explosive in energy. Equity actors staged readings with the intensity of full productions.” In 2024, Chris felt that VetRep had outgrown their space, and leased the bank building to begin what was to become Savage Wonder Art Center (SWAC) that re-launched in 2025. Originally, all work was supposed to be “created by veterans, first responders, or their immediate family members.”

Originally Inside

What opened up inside was extremely high concept, surrounded by deep thoughts. With more on deck. According to their website:

The Parlor
”A 50-seat living-room style theater, opening with Ionesco's The Bald Soprano and continuing with Noel Coward's Fallen Angels, Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, and Gogol's The Inspector General. Every performance features Broadway-caliber Equity actors.”

Savage Wonderground
”A 4,000-square-foot underground gallery devoted to veteran and veteran-adjacent artists, curated by Manhattan art-world veteran Jeannie Freilich. The gallery opened with Radical Fun, a multimedia group show of 13 artists, followed by KaleidoSCAPE, an exhibition of geometry-bending sculptures and canvases.”

The Grape Rebellion
”A wine and dessert bar inside the century-old vault, offering adventurous wines and globally inspired desserts drawn from veterans' overseas experiences.”

In the future, more plans were envisioned, backed by a New York State Council on the Arts grant:

The Kristofferson
”A 60-seat theater opening in 2026, named for Kris Kristofferson, who famously turned down West Point to pursue songwriting.”

The Main Stage
”A 125-seat modular performance space, designed as an indoor sculpture garden, opening in 2027.”

A vaudeville-style second stage
”This, plus an expanded hospitality venues, rounding out the building's transformation into a multidisciplinary cultural hub.”

For those curious about the logo, Savage Wonder's logo is an octopus—”strange, nimble, many-armed.” But it’s also described as “a splash—paint, wine, or blood, depending on the eye.”

“What began as one veteran searching for a creative sandbox has become a permanent home for art that rewrites expectations” are some of the last words on their Mission page.

Chris states that their Tribeca gallery remains open, under a new name: M-ARCH PROJECTS. Gina Herrera’s Misfit Dollhouse was the opener, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Until the next rewrite…

"What Happened To The Record Shop?!" Hudson Valley Vinyl Is Still Here - Real Estate Background On Previous Location

The boxes of vinyl records in crates out on the sidewalk of Hudson Valley Vinyl have moved down a few blocks to 323 Main Street. A few months ago, Hudson Valley Vinyl put out an Instagram message that declared that their landlord was seeking “Soho prices” for rent and that they were moving. That Instagram post seems to be unfindable now. A local newspaper who wrote about the relocation focused their announcement of this move on rent look-backs of rent at various shops on Main Street.

A Little Beacon Blog has chosen to look back at real estate history for the former location: 267 Main Street.

“In his time as a tenant, Reisman said that 267 Main, a two-story structure which spans six storefronts, has had three owners,” the owner of Hudson Valley Vinyl told the newspaper. “The most recent sale, according to Dutchess County records, came in 2024 when Vinit Jobanputra of Westchester County purchased the building for $2.94 million.”

Previously at 267 Main Street, when owned by Vincent Satriano, the building was targeted by Mayor Lee Kyriacou under the administration of City Administrator Chris White to be designated Historic in July 2021. Th property owner of 267 Main Street was one of 9 commercial property owners to object to the designation, and along with other property owners, submitted a strongly worded letter of objection. However, Mayor Kyriacou ignored his objection and got the votes from City Council members at the time to override him and the other property owners, thereby designating the building Historic.

Vincent’s letter of objection is re-published below. ALBB published it the first time in 2021. This year, 2026, Mayor Kyriacou targeted an original set of homes he wanted to designate back then, but tabled because of all of the objections from homeowners. Buildings that are designated as Historic can face significant financial and time-related challenges when updating or modifying their buildings.

This year, when Mayor Kyriacou tried again, some of the homeowners may not have received the notices of the intended Historic designation. One homeowner did object, but her objection email was ignored, until she re-forwarded it after her house was being written into the Historic designation resolution legislation. Several of those homes were designated Historic as well.

Replay of the July 2021 Objection of the Historic Designation of 267 Main Street is below:

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July 2021
Mr. Christopher White City Administrator

Dear Sir,

I received your letter regarding our building located at 257-267 Main Street, Beacon and the City’s interest in re-designating our property as a ‘historic-property.’ I’d like to give a brief background if I may. Our company “26 East Main Street, LLC” purchased the property sometime around last August/September of 2020. We had been in contract to purchase for more than a year dating back to the summer of 2019! Once Covid hit, our closing was put off numerous times due to constant rescheduling of engineers, attorneys, banks, title companies, etc, all due to the pandemic. Then when we finally closed, almost 2/3 of the units were either with expired leases, unpaid rents, and/or vacancies as well as many other neglected items left unaddressed in/around the property for more than a year as a result of absentee-management. I am happy to report, that after an incredibly difficult, painful, costly, and challenging year, we are finally just starting to see some light at the end of this very long and dark tunnel, hoping for a better 2022.

We have been in property management and development for approximately 20 years. We purchased this property for (2) reasons; one- to manage as existing for a period, two- for the possibility to develop. There are (3) properties immediately neighboring us to the West on both street corners that have been completely built new, and a third currently under construction across the street and a few doors from the gas station. After removing former buildings, all of these brand new buildings are beautiful and greatly enhance and add value to Main Street. These owners rightfully enjoyed the freedom from restriction to develop their properties as we hoped and expected someday to have same, and feel otherwise would be greatly unjust.

We spent a significant amount of money investing in Beacon and this property. The justification for the large investment was solely based on the possibility to rebuild on our property as the aforementioned neighbors have. By adding this designation to our property, that opportunity seems greatly diminished, if at all.

After consulting with our attorneys, we have arrived at the conclusion that we are strongly against this proposal and do NOT want this designation/restriction/limitation placed on our property and further feel it will greatly devalue our investment, and doing so against our will (especially in light of all we just sent through the last (2) years) would just add further salt in our wound.

Please strongly consider NOT placing this unwanted designation on OUR property against our will, further causing financial damage and hardship to our already struggling investment.

Thank you for your time and consideration during these challenging times. Sincerely,

Vincent Satriano
26 East Main St, LLC

Hudson Valley Vinyl told the newspaper the amount of the rent they left after their lease expired, and what the new rent could be: “Reisman had been paying $2,720 monthly on a lease that expired today [the article was published July 31, 2026]. He said Jobanputra offered a three-year extension at $3,500 per month — a 29% increase — with additional 5 percent increases in Year 2 and Year 3. (When contacted for comment, a property manager said: ‘The family does not wish to discuss their business with the media.’)”

What Is Normal Rent For A Business On Main Street?

Rents in general on Main Street have averaged between $2,500-$4,500, with the lower end being in properties that are not fixed or maintained by property owners, or are in old leases. ALBB knows of higher rents that retail businesses endure, which forces their prices for customers up in order to sustain their businesses and payrolls.

Cited in the Current’s article about the record shop was property owner Joe Donovan, who said that he and his wife own several properties on the other end of Main Street, for a total 24 properties in Beacon. Joe told the newspaper: “One hundred percent of why I’m here is to be part of urban revitalization, to make walkable, mixed-use, diverse Main Streets a public good,” Donovan was quoted by the newspaper. “To me, that’s fun.”

Donovan and his wife evicted their tenant, Tito’s Taqueria, at the west end of Main Street toward the train station, after an inspection from the Dutchess County Health Department triggered a City of Beacon Building Inspection. That inspection resulted in requiring that the property owner fix the beams in the basement that were supporting the kitchen above, which had been destroyed over time by wood-boring insects. Tito’s filed a lawsuit for wrongful lease termination and eviction.

Before the eviction, Tito’s had been paying less than $2,250 and was in contract negotiations to increase that rent and continue business. However, after the eviction, Donovan advertised the empty space for double the rent at $4,500, without having fixed the property yet. The City of Beacon’s Building Department required that he fixed the flooring before opening the space back up for use. Prospective tenants were offered a few months of free rent if they signed on while the building owners brought their building up to code for that violation. While one tenant did sign on, the property remains unopened and that former restaurant unit under construction.

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Back To Hudson Valley Vinyl

The record shop has a nifty little website. On the home page, an illustration of a record travels down with the scroll as the reader finds more information. It’s cute. Creates a bit of animation that doesn’t happen on the mobile scroll. It’s worth visiting via desktop to experience it.

A helpful FAQ section exists on the home page as well. One of the best questions on it is: “Are you a Hudson Valley vinyl record store?” Go learn about all that Hudson Valley Vinyl offers.

Upon their “We’ve Moved!” announcement on Instagram, neighboring business, Binnacle Books, said: “Amazing, welcome to the best block in town.” Esteemed music critic, Nate Chinen who used to live in Beacon and currently writes “words about sound” for WRTI / NPR, identifies as ex-NYT, is the author of a Substack, The Gig, and is the author the book, ‘Playing Changes: Jazz For the New Century,’ said “Can’t wait to check the new digs. (Congrats on heaving all those boxes and crates into place)”

The First Little Beacon Business Blog Squad Goals Mingle Is Complete!

Last week’s first Little Beacon Business Blog Squad Goals mingle is complete! Ignore the date that said 8/9. It was to be last month, and we postponed to August, only to be met with accidentally putting it on the same night as Beacon Hoops playoff games which one of our mini ALBBers was playing in. Fortunately, the rain came ☔️, and despite best efforts/desires to leaf blow the rain off the courts, Beacon Hoops rescheduled to this Sunday 🏀 and we stayed in Estilo Y Vino Wine Bar.

This mingle was for business members of ALBB (Things To Do In Beacon Guides and Business Directory), and non-profits are welcome to join at a discount rate! Everyone needs marketing and to support their local journalists and media outlets.

Joining the table was Kimberly Sevilla of HVAC company Shelter Air, therapist Kristen Verge , and Reuben Simmons of I Am Beacon. We avoided the dreaded question: “What do you do for fun?” because for business owners, working is usually 24/7, and sometimes IS fun. But this question prompted us to actually want to go line-dancing at Billy Joe’s across the river (would be nice if the ferry was reinstated to get there without car!). So the next Business Blog Squad Goals mingle might be there.

Kimberly, who is a firefighter in Cold Spring when not booking HVAC jobs, has also been racing in her sail boat on Summer Fridays. Kristen wants to do more collaging, so ALBB may also have a Vision Boarding party for possibly everyone. Need a creative space like That Creative Space to get messy in.

The wine at Estilo Y Vino was delicious as always. ALBB wanted the Chianti because of its promise of Violet Fragrance with a hint of Cherry Notes from Tuscany, Italy. Yes please. But the bottle was out and owner Elizabeth’s recommendation of another Italian suited just fine.

Watch ALBB’s new Event tab to see when our next mingle is. We will be at Estilo again!

Start your business membership any time!

Vegan Ice Cream and Sorbet At Beacon's The Chocolate Studio From New Confectioner James Spica

Many of you know ice cream and sorbet maker James Spica from his bright yellow tent at the front of the Beacon Farmer’s Market every Sunday. You may also recognize his voice from his weekly radio show on WVKR 91.3FM. James makes and sells popsicles and cups of ice cream and sorbet. But you can only mainly get it on Sundays at the market. Until he partnered with Annie down at The Chocolate Studio on the east end of Main Street near the mountain.

How did this happen, and what is available?

James tells A Little Beacon Blog (who is a regular customer of his strawberry rhubarb): “Back in 2024, Annie approached me at the Beacon Farmers Market and asked if I would be interested in having my award winning line of vegan ice cream and sorbet offed at The Beacon Chocolate Studio. Already up to my eyeballs in new orders I said thanks so much for the offer but I can’t do it. Annie asked again in 2025 and I had to say yes. It’s been a pleasure to have my New Confectioner vegan ice-cream in her shop. I’ve been a vendor at the three time Best Of The Hudson Valley winning Beacon Farmers Market since 2011, and I am so proud to be a small part of that. Annie just stocked up with our most indulgent flavors including Matcha, Strawberry Rhubarb, Turkish Chocolate Coffee and more. Thanks Again Annie, You Rock!!”

How Did James Get Started?

“A while back,” James tells ALBB, “my most excellent wife, Judy, got me a simple ice cream maker for my birthday. That turned out to be a light switch moment and the beginning of my total obsession with frozen desserts.”

James discovered the frozen dessert in the small town of El Pescadero Baja Mexico. “I had some very rustic, but oh so delicious helado flavors. Prune, avocado, corn, tequila, and almond. These sound simple enough, but the authenticity of the flavors really came through," James recalled.

“Later, I had the good fortune to taste my first vegan ice cream in Rome, Italy, a place with a long history of dairy gelato. But Rome is also know for its world renowned food, and we found a vegetarian spot that had wonderful vegan ice cream.”

In 2010, with two new Ice creams maker in hand, James began to selling his vegan treats at the Millbrook Farmers Market. “To my surprise, they took off. After retiring, I had the benefit of some retirement money. So I took classes at the Culinary Institute of America and at Penn State.” Having the Culinary Institute of America so close to Beacon in the Hudson Valley has produced several culinary self-starters like James.

“The year of 2025 was my 16th season, and I can’t imagine ever stopping,” James concluded.

Thursday 8/9/2026 is ALBB's First Business Meetup! "Squad Goals" At Estilo Y Vino Wine Bar

Thursday is ALBB’s first meetup for our Business advertisers! This is ALBB’s Business Blog Squad. A collection of therapists, roofers, restaurant owners, shop owners, and more. This is a chance for a time to get together to talk shop, share experiences, spark new ideas, and come away revived to keep going. Because as business owners, we push ourselves to push through. 👊🏼

Hosted by the generous Elizabeth Rodriguez, owner of the beautiful and intimate Estilo Y Vino Wine Bar at 173 Main Street. ALBB business Members enjoy 1 free glass of wine with 1 tapas order.

This is a great time to join ALBB’s Business Blog Squad and begin your advertising campaigns. We created several levels to work with different budgets and goals.

BRING A FRIEND
Bring your spouse, partner, favorite person, fellow staff member. Enjoy yourself and mingle with friends.

IDEATE!
Get down to business with other business owners who want to support you and mutually share in your success. Let’s discuss what’s working, what is not working, and how we can grow from there.

CELEBRATE
Your chance to share what you’re celebrating.

NAIL IT
Come away revived. Make new or renewed connections with others.

ALBB’s ADVERTISING PROGRAMS

There are several to pick from:

Things To Do In Beacon Guides:

Designed for businesses on Main Street. Get weekly features in ALBB’s Instagram and weekend Newsletter.
See Them Here >

Business Directory:

Designed for service-based businesses and the service extension of Main Street business (such as Catering or additional Beauty services).
Search This Here >

Branded Content:

Designed for businesses who want to control the narrative. Purchase one article or partner with ALBB for one article each month.

Learn about all advertising programs here in ALBB’s Media Kit. Advertising memberships can be started online via the link below. DM with questions or schedule a phonecall to explore.

"The Only Accessory A Girl Really Wants Is A Sword": Where To Learn How To Use The Sword In Beacon

In keeping with the matriarchal vibes that @sarahofmagdalene has been putting out (featuring @rosiejsargent @thatgirlfromavalon , this one about the sword resonated. You can take Sarah’s course on decentering patriarchal men (it’s virtual), *and* learn how to use the sword here in Beacon. With precision, accuracy and core strength.

Mountain Stream Budo Martial Arts offers a program in Battodo Iaido (swordsmanship) classes, which includes learning how to cut with a samurai sword! ALBB has tried it. Requires intense, rewarding focus. Available to ages Ages 13+, here is the class schedule:

Weekly Class Schedule
Tuesdays 7:30
Thursdays 7:15
Saturdays 1:00

Mountain Stream Budo also offers a self defense workshop. Pictured here is a Women’s Self Defense workshop that was put together earlier this year. If you have interest in a self defense workshop, or in the Battodo Iaido (swordsmanship) classes, email info@MountainStreamBudo.com for more information.

See also about a Trial Class! Where you can get all your martial arts questions answered, see the space, and the swords. Karate, jujitsu and weaponry classes are all offered. Beginners welcome! No experience necessary.

Located on Eliza Street (right off Main Street) next to Oui Oui and across from the Mobile gas station: 340 Main Street, Beacon, NY (entrance on Eliza Street)

Mountain Stream Budo is a Sponsor of ALBB’s Classes Guide and a Member of A Little Beacon’s Business Blog Squad. 🌟

Chocolate Chip Cookies For Breakfast Baked By One Of Beacon's Chocolatiers: The Chocolate Studio and Candy Shop

Chocolate Chip Cookies baked by The Chocolate Studio Beacon that you cannot unsee. Try. But if you go in to this little candy shop on the east end of Main Street by the mountain, and if you do not buy the freshly baked cookie to eat before making it to your parked car or next destination, then you will be returning night after night, refreshing their closed hours to see if they are really closed or if they have another batch in the oven maybe for tomorrow. Go today.

Chocolate Studio is a longtime chocolatier famous for their caramel chocolate combinations. They love smothering sweets in chocolate, and carrying other brand’s candy. And for #stationeryday, they even have edible note paper for secret letter writing that your intended can eat.

See this shop and more in A Little Beacon Blog’s OG Shopping Guide:

www.alittlebeaconblog.com/shopping-guide

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The Luminous Bride Has Moved! Around Corner From Lores Cafe, Inside Of Sullivan & Main

The Luminous Bride has moved! Once located down near the mountain and the old train tracks, this makeup studio has relocated to 249 Main Street Unit 105, sharing the space with Sullivan & Main Salon next to Lores Cafe in what is becoming a beauty enclave, with Vivash Aesthetics around the corner. This spot is opposite the Dutchess County DMV Parking Lot, so plenty of free municipal parking is available.

The Luminous Bride honors the uniqueness and individuality of all of their clients. Offering makeup for Weddings, Special Occasions and Beauty Pop Ups. Owner and Luxury Editorial Bridal Beauty Artist Jules Waldkoetter knows her clientele so well, she also offers Trials for makeup visions to see how the blended colors and lines fit.

With over a decade of experience and a reputation for elevated, on-location bridal beauty, Jules has built a trusted brand known for refined artistry, a calming client experience, and a highly curated team of professionals. The new studio marks an exciting evolution for the business—offering clients a dedicated, thoughtfully designed space for bridal trials, beauty services, and creative collaboration.

“This new studio is a meaningful next step for me,” says Jules. “It allows me to bring my clients into a space that reflects the experience I aim to create — one that feels elevated, welcoming, and personal.”

Located inside Sullivan and Main Salon, a growing hub for modern beauty in Beacon, the studio reflects Jules’ signature aesthetic: a balance of soft luxury, warmth, and editorial-inspired design. The space has been intentionally created to provide a serene, elevated environment where clients can feel both relaxed and confident during their beauty experience.

While continuing to serve a high volume of weddings throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond, the studio will function as a home base for trials, team education, and brand growth.

Jules and her team specialize in editorial-leaning luxury bridal beauty services, offering both in-studio and on-location experiences for weddings and events.

For more information, inquiries, or bookings, please visit www.theluminousbride.com or follow along on Instagram at @theluminousbride. The Luminous Bride can be found in ALBB’s Beauty Guide and is a member of the Business Directory.

Positive Move For Beacon D'Lites As They Close and Offer Everything Inside For Free (Furniture For Sale)

Yes, it's true! Beacon D'Lites has closed, and is having their Everything Must Go For Free Sale Today Only! Look for the tiny sign outside on the sidewalk.

All of the little retail things are free, like wall signs, Easter and Christmas decor, candles, baking tools, a faux Christmas tree, so much. The tables and shelving that the little items are on is also for sale, but you must go now - today - to secure.

For the past 3 years, the business has been under new ownership. Tara Flagler and her family bought it from the original owner, Donna Trappe, and built it out to include a new candle bar, which was popular for parties. She still sold the original Beacon D'Lite candles on the left side of the store, but on the right side of the store, operated the candle bar with totally different candle recipes.

As reported by WPDH: “The candle shop first opened in 2002 when founder Donna Trappe began hand-pouring soy candles from her home kitchen. As demand grew, Beacon D'Lites moved into a storefront at 327 Main Street in 2005, becoming part of Beacon's growing collection of independent shops, galleries and restaurants.” While she sold the business to Tara 3 years ago, Donna’s 3 nieces trained in how to make the OG Beacon D’Lite candles, and currently sell them at Beacon Bath & Bubble on Main Street, and Trax Coffee Roasters on Rte. 52.

Where To Find Tara Flagler Now In The Hudson Valley

But fear not. She is removing the beautiful granite candle making bar and putting it into storage until the next iteration of her candle bar opens again.

"This is a positive change for us," Tara told A Little Beacon Blog. "This is a healthy move for our family as we tend to my mother and our other businesses."

This isn't all Tara does. A native of Cold Spring, Tara’s career started from her background as a dancer and fitness instructor. She grew up with a nursing influence and also living with an ill parent. This all influenced her career decisions.

Tara owns and operates with staff:

• The Main Course (To-Go Foods, Meals, Event Planning, Catering)

• Sweet Harvest (Special Drinks, Smoothies, Lemonade, Bubble Tea, Wraps, Salads)

• Sweet Harvest Lemonade Hut (mobile Lemonade Stand for Events)

• Sweet Harvest Lemonade Hut (permanent hut inside Splashdown Water Park)

• Hudson River Healing (Salt Room and Spa)

Once you meet Tara, you will be amazed at how much of her passions begin unfolding before you. She is a lifelong learner and do-er, as she serves as an Exercise Physiologist, is a Retired Professor of Exercise Physiology, and formerly worked in Cardiac Rehab.

After she explored dance and fitness instruction, she went on to study Human Performance Science at Adelphi University. While working in cardiac rehabilitation at the 92nd Street Y in NYC she completed her first Masters Degree in the field and went on to work in Hamilton, Bermuda and at the Riverdale Y before marrying and moving to Tennessee and Germany.

Tara has worked for the Red Cross, several health and fitness clubs, ran an in-home daycare in Germany and finally settled back in Cold Spring with her family.

VIDEO: Money Monday Message: You Can Order The Steak, But You Can't Ask That It Be Free

Happy Monday, if you’re a business owner who is in the hustle and likes your job (even though entrepreneurship is haaaard), Mondays can be a welcome place. This one is for the Service Providers out there. Who don’t sell tangible goods but provide a service (video, legal, financial planning, etc).

Also: Correction: there is no City Council Meeting tonight because it’s the 5th Monday, and they now alternate weeks. Which is sort of good because now ALBB has more time to get you those addresses of the proposed Historic House Designations that will auto-flip to Historic Designation unless the homeowner writes in their objection! It’s not very affordable to be Historic Designation, in many cases.

Onward! ALBB is off to take a break To The Garden on this evening. Doing an odd job of moving hostas and tiger lilies for a neighbor.

🌟 This Money Monday Small Business video message is sponsored by @tinshingle , who is in the business of turning ideas into action! And making your own news and social media. www.tinshingle.com

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Yemeni Coffee Shop Opens In Poughkeepsie - 1450 Mokha Drinks, Sweets & Atmosphere Are Transformative

Interview with Ali Dabashi, one of the brothers behind the Creation of 1450 Mokha, and Ahmed, a family friend and partner.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

The signature drink, the 1450 Latte, made with white chocolate cardamom syrup and seasoned with a shake blend of cardamom, cinnamon and nutmeg blended in-house, rimmed with honey.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Katie interviewed one of the 6 Dabashi Brothers, Ali, and their partner Ahmed on the second day of their soft opening of 1450 Mokha at in Poughkeepsie, located across from Marist University in the Job Lots / Home Depot shopping center at 3434 North Road. Many in Beacon have never seen Ali in this setting - relaxed and sitting in the deep red Yemeni style couches that he crafted and built. "Why aren't you in Key Food?" demanded Katie. "Did you get bored?" Ali smiled and shook his head.

"The Dabashi Brothers, along with our partner Ahmed, have opened 1450 Mokha. Our passion is coffee, and we love our culture so much. We wanted to bring something that we always drive an hour and half to every time we are off work - which is the taste of Yemen."

Writing this interview - which you must also watch in video here in this article - required savoring the signature iced drink of 1450 Mokha. The latte is gorgeous in the glass, and the baristas recommend stirring before sipping in order to swirl the flavors, which are traditional Middle Eastern spices composed of white chocolate cardamom syrup and seasoned with a shake blend of cardamom, cinnamon and nutmeg blended in-house, rimmed with honey. The creme at the top is a secret. This drink is transformative.

1450 Mokha is not just an ode to their ancestral home of Yemen, and is not just a coffee shop. It is their haven to stretch out their creative sides and flavor pallets to welcome all to enjoy and experience traditional Yemeni hospitality.

Located in the parking lot of Job Lots, Home Depot, with a Planet Fitness coming soon, this coffee shop is ideal for being in the center of things. "Home Depot is my home," said Ali during our interview, as he can be often be found envisioning new shelving and building it.

After our interview, a new customer walked through the door, drawn in by the Arabic music playing softly outside. The fact that he could hear the music from the parking lot, while avoiding numerous potholes that frequent most of those shopping market parking lots up Rte. 9, was impressive.

The new customer was beside himself with enthusiasm: "I could hear the music! Did you just open? Is this a new location for you? Do you have other shops? Didn't this used to be the acai bowl place? But they had no foot traffic? Congratulations!!"

This is 1450 Mokha’s first location. Foot traffic might not matter here, with the Arabic community driving up seeking these homegrown flavors and new customers from the medical and student communities becoming regulars. Located across the street from Marist University, and near the Culinary Institute, this little coffee shop will be a must-park-and-sit to study, talk, relax, and develop the next big ideas.

The Meaning Behind 1450 Mokha

The Tres LEche dessert at 1450 Mokha.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

The name 1450 Mokha is especially deep to Ali and his brothers. "Mokha" (also spelled Mocha) refers to the historic port city of Al Mokha on Yemen's Red Sea coast. For centuries, coffee grown in Yemen was exported through this port to the rest of the world, making Mokha one of the most important names in coffee history. The word "mocha" used around the world today traces its roots back to this historic city.

The number 1450 represents the year when coffee began gaining prominence in Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula. Yemen played a central role in cultivating, preparing and spreading coffee culture throughout the world.

Sweet treats can be found inside, which include traditional Yemeni sweets such as Honeycomb bread, Sabayah, authentic Yemeni sweets from Mocha Sweets in Detroit, Michigan (a region with a large Arab community), with many other pastries and desserts.

Desserts Available In The Case

Three pistacchio desserts avilable at 1450 MOkha.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Sampled for this interview was the Festival (Gluten Free), featuring Vanilla Cream, Pistachio Cake and Almond. Next was the Pistachio Mouse, with a Chocolate Cake crust. And finally, the Layered Pistacchio Stack, with a soft but thick Chocolate on top, Pistachio layered with cream and a chocolate base buried underneath. Best eaten as the row with all flavors on the spoon together into your mouth.

The Origin Of The Coffee

The coffee and espresso is from Moka Origins, which is roasted locally in PA and includes beans from Uganda, Ethiopia, and other regions. Beacon locals have already been exposed to this line of coffee through Junior Zayad Dabashi who has been attached for some years.

The Hudson Valley local painter Mary Mechalakos (Murals by Mary) came up to paint the mural of the logo on the wall. She will be defining the culture and the history of their coffee on the longer wall opposite the barista station soon.

Coffee & Matcha

Many other drinks are available, including the Adeni Tea, which unlike the Red Tea, boils with evaporated milk. It is another Yemeni favorite and will be the next order for A Little Beacon Blog when we plop down into the ugly chair in the front that Ali says is his favorite: "The best, ugliest, most comfortable chair you can have."

Matcha is available as well. But not just any matcha. "I had no idea there were so many versions of matcha," Ali said. "This is ceremonial grade matcha - top of the line straight from Japan." During staff-training, which involved professional baristas from Michigan to train the 7 new staff members, 1450 Mokha gave away the coffee and matcha that they made during training. "Everyone wanted the matcha, and we ran out. I went everywhere to find more,” Ali recalled. “NYC. Walmart. Everywhere to find anything. Finding the ceremonial grade matcha is like a drug market." Matcha at 1450 Mokha is the right color green with no additives. Not sweetened or flavored.

Events like screening of the World Cup will be held in the outdoor seating with a beautiful view of the setting sun and Job Lots. This finely crafted coffee spot is a wondrous addition to Poughkeepsie.

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Tin Shingle is a proud sponsor of this series, the Good News Small Business Interview because Tin Shingle knows that belief in an idea and in the self is foundational to making it happen.

Business dreamers and doers often work in isolation, if only in their minds, while dreaming of each component of a business.

Tin Shingle teaches and empowers businesses in getting the word out about their business by getting into the news and making their own social media.

Tin Shingle’s Community Membership is open to all who are doing it themselves or hiring staff to do it in-house. Private services are also available for those who need storytelling produced for them or training to get their staff capable.

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Birthday Gift Wish During Permit Driving Session TO School