Vegan options are very popular in Beacon. Most eateries from pizza to burgers to tacos are incorporating both gluten-free and vegan options into their menus. Nevertheless, running a restaurant is hard. Végétalien, the plant-based eatery on the east end of town near the mountain, announced two weeks ago that they are closing.

As explained in their Instagram post: “It is with mixed emotions that we write to post to notify you that Végétalien will be closing its doors permanently. Our last day of business was January 29th, 2023. We have various store equipment, shelving and fixtures that will be available for purchase as well. If you are interested in any of these items, pease email us at vegetalienbeacon@gmail.com. Lastly, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported our small business throughout the years. We know that there are many stores in the area to choose from and we are honored that you chose Végétalien above the others. We appreciate all of our loyal customers who have helped our store thrive for the past years! Until we meet again!”

Végétalien was started by restaurateur, Kamel Jamal (currently Beacon Bread, Ziatun, formerly Angelino’s in Cold Spring and Titos in Beacon) whose daughter named it after the french name for vegetarian. Végétalien’s current owner Moises purchased the eatery from Kamel and Lena in 2018.

Over time, the famed Beacon-based vegan ice-cream company, Lick The Vegan Stuff, was also based out of Végétalien. Lick The Vegan Stuff left that location in November 2022.

Prior to Végétalien being in that location, the eatery called Raddish with memorable salads was there. It remains to be seen if a food-based business will remain in that location.

Written by Teslie Andrade

New Matcha Cafe In Town!

Matcha Thomas officially opened their doors on May 21, 2021, for a soft launch featuring iced, creamy matcha lattes, strawberry milk matcha boba, and an assortment of treats (all 100% vegan & gluten-free). Those building their Beacon Business Trivia card deck will remember that this used to be the catering space of Homespun, the cafe of which remains across the street.

How Matcha Thomas Came To Be

Photo credit: MatCHA Thomas ”WE'RE THE "THOMAS" TO OUR "MATCHA"!” — Photo credit: MatCHA Thomas
”WE'RE THE "THOMAS" TO OUR "MATCHA"!”

The owners, the Thomas family of 4, have dreamt of this day for as long as they could remember. As avid matcha lovers, they would go around different towns to visit cafes, trying as many different matchas as they could. The 2 daughters, Haile and Nia, even created the concept of Matcha Thomas as a joke on Instagram sharing the matchas they would try. It was the one day that Haile and Nia decided to make their own matcha latte at home and thought “Wow…” Then, the planning for the storefront for Matcha Thomas began!

The Thomas family lives right by Woodbury, NY - where they have been for 5 years after moving from Arizona. They travel about 30 minutes to Beacon simply because they love Beacon so much! “When we first came to Beacon, we just fell in love and thought ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a shop down here?’” said Haile and Nia.

Well, all it took was one evening of picking up dinner on Main Street during the pandemic and spotting a “For Rent” sign at 259 Main Street. As an entrepreneurial family, the planning and collaboration was a success and Matcha Thomas is up & running with many people bustling in and out saying, “We saw what you posted on Instagram today and we want it.”

Why Vegan & Gluten-Free?

“We chose vegan because our entire family is Vegan. We have been for 7 years. It’s been a journey for sure,” said Haile. “After going through health issues with my dad, we all decided on a plant-based diet. With this, we also want to contribute to the world - the ethical & environmental side. Being Vegan and wanting to contribute to the world is also fun. It’s a space where you can be creative.”

Treats are made each morning and recipes are created right at their home. In fact, the delicious brownie recipe was created one night when Haile and Nia wanted brownies but didn’t want to search for a recipe and decided to whip up their own batter! Gluten-free flour/almond flour are used as substitutes for all-purpose flour, and sweeteners are refined sugar-free - coconut sugar, maple syrup, etc. “There’s just so much you can do”, said Haile.

You can also stop in and sample two different teas! The teas are brewed each morning in 9.5 Alkaline Kangen Water for maximum flavor extraction and nutrient absorption. Read more about alkaline here!

What Is the “Matcha For The People” Wall?

“The wall was inspired by the fact that we felt we had space where we could potentially offer an opportunity for people to tap into kindness and really acknowledge and affirm the people around us that make the world go round.”

How Does the “Matcha For The People” Wall Work?

“Basically,” explains Haile, “you come in and buy X for a person (someone struggling with mental health, having a bad day, a single parent, or whoever!) and write it on a sticky note and stick it to our wall. A person who comes in and identifies with a sticky note on the wall can then redeem it and get something free that was paid for by someone else.”

Good Vibes All Around!

When you walk in, a cinnamon scent will envelop you, which immediately makes your heart happy and your taste buds yearn. Matcha Thomas is a minimalist cafe with beautiful fiddle leaf figs in the window and a selenite crystal located on your way out. It’s the little things! The selenite crystal known for having the ability to purify energy - whether you believe in it or not - it feels like a good thing.

Both Haile and Nia lean into the selenite crystal, explaining: “Adding the selenite crystal was an idea from an amazing woman who owns a spiritual shop in Chester, NY. She came in and helped us assess the energy in our space and shared the idea of the stone with us. We loved it!”

The energy in Matcha Thomas is magic.

*Pictured: Matcha Thomas - the signature latte! Recipe is a plant milk of your choice (oat, almond, or hemp) blended w/ premium ceremonial-grade matcha and coconut vanilla cream base. It is GOOD.*

When Faced With The Choice Of Just One Drink, What Does Matcha Thomas Recommend?

“It depends! If you want a classic experience, definitely our signature Matcha Thomas. If you want to have some fun, any of our boba drinks!”

Always ask for recommendations if you’re torn! Haile and Nia are guaranteed to pick something delicious for you depending on your mood. As a first-timer, I wanted to try one of everything but was eager to try the Matcha Thomas Signature Latte. If I could describe it in three words, it would be, rich, creamy, and decadent. But not so rich that it was heavy. It is a light, creamy feel - a MUST try! Part of what creates the creamy sensation in the non-dairy latte is the matcha green tea itself. Known as a Japanese plant, the green tea leaf is crushed into a powder.

The Matcha Thomas Instagram is run by Haile Thomas who has been in an influencer space for years. Check out their photos but be prepared to drool!