Two New Foodies Open In Hudson Valley Food Hall: Oui Oui HV and Taco Al Dente

Two new foodies are opening in the Hudson Valley Food Hall: Taco Al Dente and Oui Oui HV. The Food Hall has become a known incubator destination for eateries who are opening for the first time on Main Street. Except Five Pennies Creamery, the homemade ice-cream company who was based in Rockville Centre, NY and relocated to Beacon, NY.

Momo Valley, the Himalayan spice momo eatery was one of the first to branch out when they moved out and into 455 Main Street, the old Joe’s Irish Pub when that building that was sold by an elder Beacon resident to a new real estate company based out of town. In the Food Hall, Momo Valley was replaced by Morish, who moved out relatively soon to open in the old Big Vinny’s Pizza spot near b Hair Studio.

Another brand to expand was Elixxr, the coffee company who makes their own almond milk. Elixxr moved just down the block into a former real estate office that they renovated into the Instagram-delicious little café filled with nourishing ingredients.

Dulce Cielo MX was the Mexican eatery in the back of the Food Hall who left this year as they make moves to expand. They left behind the gorgeous mural of Frida Khalo they had custom painted by Murals by Mare. Replacing them is Taco Al Dente, a spot by Bivona’s Simply Pasta who specializes in hand-rolled pastas and now handmade tortillas for the tacos.

Oui Oui HV will move into the old Morish spot. Oui Oui HV used to be a Business Directory Member at A Little Beacon Blog in the Catering section until they invested in a food truck and took to the road. Now it looks like they are putting down pins in the Food Hall and plan to open in a month. “This move has been on our to-do list for 4 years, since we moved to Beacon. We are SUPER excited!” Their official open date will be announced soon. Until then, look for them as they set up the space.

Citing Unsustainable Rent Increase, Stella's Fine Market Closes On Main Street

Days after announcing their Reader’s Choice award of Best Specialty Food Shop In The Hudson Valley by Hudson Valley Magazine, Stella’s Fine Market next announced that they were closing by the end of of the month, citing an unsustainable rent increase.

“I didn’t want to end our stay on Main Street,” said owner Nikki Hayes to her Instagram audience, “but our rent increase became something I simply couldn’t afford any longer. But I’m choosing to see this as a blessing in disguise.”

Nikki’s husband, Adam. Photo Credit: Stella’s Fine Market

The closure announcement was contained in a post featuring Nikki and her daughter, Stella. On posts like this, the reader holds their breath a little, because posts like that are either re-introduction posts, or bad news. It was the latter: “I’ve been dreading writing this post…We will be closing Stella’s at the end of this month. It’s hard to put into words what this little shop has meant to me all these years & what you have meant to me.”

Stella’s Fine Market was known for tightly curated ingredients, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages that Nikki used in her everyday life.

“If you’ve ever appreciated what I built here, maybe some, almost 5,000 of you! who are following can help me find the perfect next step. I’m looking ahead with excitement and intention. I’m ready to bring everything I’ve learned curating emerging brands, building customer trust, and spotting what’s next in food and drink to a bigger platform. With a background in procurement, merchandising, packaging design and deep knowledge of the non-alcoholic space. I’d love to work with a brand that shares my values and building community through great products. I’m not rushing into the next thing I’m waiting for the right thing. The kind of role where I can keep doing this work I love, with impact and integrity, just on a larger scale.”

Beacon Culinary Legend, Sound Maker and Creative, Matt Hutchins, Has Passed

All photos of Matt Hutchins are from his Instagram, @buttermilkjack.

Matt Hutchins was a game-changing culinary icon during a time of culinary renaissance that defined Beacon. That time period could be likened to when DIA:Beacon opened in the old Nabisco box printing factory and changed the trajectory of Beacon’s art and design scene. Matt, known as Matty to friends, passed away Saturday June 28, 2025 at age 51.

ALBB did not know him personally, but he regularly appeared as the chef in several new restaurant openings, so he was often in our articles. Regional food magazines are most likely going to devote a few pages to this culinary creative. Matt presented as: “A dreamer, chef, musician, vintage and vinyl enthusiast, forager, and earnest knucklehead,” reads his Instagram. A graduate of the Culinary Institute, he was also from the south.

He first appeared on ALBB’s radar when he was part of the opening of The Hop. Says beverage industry veteran and Beacon resident, Lynnette Marrero in Imbibe who designed cocktails for The Hop: “When a local beer bar called The Hop opened in 2012, things started to change. It really opened the local scene to craft, even evolving to have a small cocktail menu.” Food-wise, it was described as “country French with Southern inflection” at Upstater.

Prior to The Hop, in 2010, Matt was chosen as the chef for Birdsall House.

When The Hop announced its unexpected closure in October 2016, local journalist Brian Cronin of the Highlands Current declared: “It was the social-media equivalent of an earthquake on the east end of Beacon’s Main Street.” ALBB wrote about it here. The team at The Hop went on to create other establishments, like bar manager and former dolly grip in LA, John-Anthony Gargiulo, who opened Hudson Valley Brewery. Others went to newly formed Melzingah’s.

From January - April 2017, Matt was the first executive chef for the opening of the renovated Beacon Hotel (revisit that history and major renovation here). Beacon Hotel Restaurant ended and became Carter’s owned by Chef Jon Lombardi.

When Mama Roux opened at 96 Broadway in Newburgh in November 2019, Matt described the flavor as: “deep South with some Cajun influences, Creole, and country French” in the Times Hudson Valley.

By at least December 2022, Matt snuggled into Dogwood, formerly owned by George Mansfield (retired and current City Councilmember), which he sold to become what is now Cooper’s.

At the Dogwood, Matt’s menu was wide-ranging: “@buttermilkjack (aka chef Matt Hutchins) is rolling out his new expanded Dogwood menu tonight. there really is something for everyone now, so what are you waiting for? come on out to @dogwoodbeacon for some of what has now got to be the best bar food in town.”

Matt continued on at Quinn’s, which is owned by Yukie and Tom Schmitz since 2013, and where George Mansfield can be seen again (George was once a partner, as have been some others, but Yukie and Tom are the sole owners at present, Yukie told ALBB). Matt spread out musically.

In October 2024, Matt was part of the opening of the new-ownership version of Untouchable in Newburgh at 40 Liberty Street. The owners of Quinn’s set their sights on this dive bar. Yukie recalled to ALBB: “Thanks again for writing about Matt who was a wonderful human being and a big part of our community. We all will miss him for a long time.” Yukie let ALBB know that he also helped them open Untouchable in Newburgh last year. “Matty was a huge part of it. I miss him being behind the bar. It was such a fun moment.” Menu items included a French Taco (chicken and Gruyere cheese) and Le Smash (double smash burger).

Matt Hutchins behind the newly opened restaurant bar, Untouchable, in Newburgh.
PHoto credit: Yukie Schmitz.

Local friends have been mourning and expressing their unexpected grief. Yukie published in her Instagram with a picture of Matt in an airport: “A dear friend whom I treated like family. They helped me out at work and they helped me out a lot. This picture is of him just arriving at Narita Airport. He was always the one at the center of the circle. Until recently, I'm filled with unheard thoughts from many people that he cherished his memories in Japan.”

Food photographer Meghan Spiro said in her Instagram: “Sometimes we crossed paths in business while I captured your dishes, but more often, we found ourselves late night at Quinn’s - catching up on each of our hopes and dreams, reminiscing on southern family recipes, and encouraging each other to always be better humans.

Food photographer and painter Meghan Spiro responds to Matt Hutchin’s passing.

“I can’t believe you’re gone, Matt. I just saw you and said ‘see you later’ and not goodbye. I’m not ready. I thought we had more laughs, more collaborations.

“You were a maverick in the community and put Beacon on the map as a culinary destination over a decade ago. You packed so much flavor in your life and your food and your music. The force was always strong with you.

“You have a whole community in mourning. None of us were ready.”

Free Sunglasses Giveaway From CareFull MD - Kids and Adult Sizes! (gafas de sol GRATI S 😎🕶️)

💜🤍💜 F R EE 😎🕶️ sunglasses giveaway!

💜💟💜 gafas de sol G R A T I S 😎🕶️!

CareFull MD, Beacon’s first walk-in clinic urgent care is giving away sunglasses in Kids and Adult sizes.

You may have seen the flyer in elementary school kid’s folders or in the ad in the Beacon Free Press or here at A Little Beacon Blog. When you’re getting groceries - or any time or just to say “hi” to see what the spacious waiting room looks and feels like in CareFull MD’s air conditioning - come in for a pair of sunglasses. It’s CareFull MD’s housewarming gift to the community. 🤗

Open 10am-8pm Daily. Any day!

Located next to Key Food grocery store.

Yes, The Sign Guys Outside Rite Aid Are Twins

If you were riding your bike down Main Street yesterday, and you saw the unusual marketing tactic found in Beacon of the Going Out Of Business sign guys (usually there are sign spinners and such in big cities and along Rte 9, but Beacon seems to have met the Big City scaffolding milestone), you may have taken a double take when you saw one man holding the sign, and then a nearly identical man holding another sign.

We have confirmed that they are indeed twin brothers.