Hochul: Red Barn brings new life to downtown Hudson

The project was awarded $426,860 from the Regional Economic Development Council through the Consolidated Funding Application in 2018.

“This is a catalyst,” Hochul said. “This Red Barn project across the street from one of the busiest Amtrak stations in the state certainly has a natural clientele, but to create outdoor event space, something we’ve now put a premium on during a pandemic, people feel comfortable here. I just want to thank the owners for believing in this community, helping take a part of our region that was blighted and neglected and bringing new life into it. I couldn’t be more excited.”

The restaurant portion of the site will include seating for 52 to 58 guests and the event space will hold up to 250 people and can be used for activities such as corporate events, rehearsal dinners events that can cater to the community’s needs, said Ben Fain, owner of the project.

The barn area of the project is under construction and the restaurant space will open up before the end of the year, Fain said. The barn space will be the final portion of the project and will most likely be completed next year.

Fain bought the property about a year ago, he said.

“It’s definitely a team effort. This is big enough, that it takes a lot of brain power and a lot of people who are good at a lot of different things,” Fain said.

Fain said the Consolidated Funding Application was what made the project a possibility.

The market space offers grocery items and food and drinks to go. The cafe offers breakfast sandwiches, a number of rotisserie chicken options as well as drinks. There is a to-go window for ordering, or customers can come into the market area. Outside there are a number of tables with umbrellas for dining.

“Opening Kitty’s had been a dream to dig in with the community,” culinary director Lauren Schaefer, “especially on this side of town where there haven’t been as many businesses along Front Street, especially businesses that provide daytime affordable groceries and affordable food. It feels like we’re filling a need.”

The 60 South Front St. location is situated across the street from the Amtrak train station in Hudson. Fain said it is the third-busiest train station in the state.

The businesses across the street from the station will serve local people as well as be a convenient place for people coming and going on the train to shop or eat.

Hochul and Jordan got a tour of Kitty’s, got to see the nearly completed restaurant area, take a walk through the site’s kitchen space and eat chicken and cake in the outside seating area.

“I always travel the state,” Hochul said. “I want to see how our investments are panning out, what difference they are making, and here in Columbia County, in Hudson, the difference is extraordinary.”

Hochul also visited businesses in Lake Placid, Ford Edward and Coxsackie on Tuesday.