Disputed convenience store opens in Livingston

Alltown Fresh, a Massachusetts based hospitality and convenience store concept opened its second location in New York, its ninth overall, in the town of Livingston.

According to the companies website, Alltown Fresh is the fastest growing “hospitality concept” featuring handcrafted kitchens, market store items with locally sourced products, made-to-order food, and speciality coffees.

The brand is actively moving away from the general understanding of what a gas station convenience store looks like.

The food is made by chefs with aprons. The bathrooms are immaculate and the staff is cheery.

But not all residents of Livingston are happy about Alltown Fresh’s arrival.

During a Livingston town planning board meeting in February, 2019, some residents expressed that the cafe and convenience store would deviate from Livingston’s rural spirit. About 3,500 people live in the town.

“The character of Livingston looks a certain way and that is why I chose to live here,” Livingston resident Steve Blair said in the meeting. “Before this decision is made, I hope you consider the character of our town and what it looks like and the character is maintained by whatever decision is made.”

In a letter to the editor from April, 2019, Armen Donelian, a resident of Greenport wrote, “The continuous light and noise pollution emanating 24/7/365 from the site affects the quality of life for us, our neighbors and area wildlife.”

Some three years later, Alltown Fresh is fully operable all day, all night, seven days a week.

A horse farm sits to the east of the proposed gas station. A mobile home neighborhood is to the west.

John Bush, chef at the Livingston Alltown Fresh said, “I am excited to be here working with the community and sourcing local product. Our team is loving the opportunity welcoming people coming in who are curious what we are all about. So far the menu seems to be a hit, with guests ordering food all across the menu, and the market is doing well too. It’s been a terrific start.”

Anne Macpherson, a resident of Hudson who lives near the heavily trafficked intersection wrote in a letter in 2019 that, “I am strongly against this project because it will affect my well, the creek below our house and the increased traffic will make it even more difficult to travel Rt. 9H during peak driving periods. In addition, the glacial aquifer is a very valuable asset to not only the town of Livingston but to all those who depend on clean water for miles around.”

The ribbon cutting for the event took place March 10.

“The door was opening every five seconds,” said CEO and President of Columbia County Chamber of Commerce William Gerlach. “My thoughts when we did the ribbon cutting were that this is the nicest convenience store I’ve ever seen, and I’ve traveled the country. I think it is going to be a home run for the company.”

Gerlach mentioned that he assumed the role of CEO and President of Columbia County Chamber of Commerce in the Spring of 2021, when the Alltown Fresh project was already grandfathered in.

For more information about Alltown Fresh, visit their website at: www.alltownfresh.com.