Alongside its wealth of colonial and Revolutionary-era history, Kingston’s Stockade District is a constantly evolving tapestry. And just last spring, an essential piece of the big picture fell perfectly into place with the opening of Kingston Social, a cafe, mercantile, and gallery space located right across the street from the Ulster County Office Building.
The space is light and fragrant, the colorful art and merch as enticing as the fresh-baked cornetti and fresh-brewed coffee. “Yes yes yes,” writes a reviewer on Google. “Excellent Italian coffee & pastries… lovely spot to spend a quick coffee break or the afternoon… family friendly with space for the kiddos… books, art, candles, local and handmade treasures…fun to discover & explore it all!”
Having operated Pinkwater Gallery on Front Street since 2019, Anne Sanger knows her way around the Stockade, as do her good friends Samara Daly and Helena Palazzi.
The concept of Kingston Social evolved over the course of numerous heartfelt discussions, and when the 1920s Fair Street building became available, the three knew it was time to take action.
“It was offered as a lease, but when we asked about buying it, the owner said yes,” says Sanger. “I think she liked the idea of what we were planning to do.”
The team set about renovating and found unexpected treasures. “It had been an insurance office, and when we took out the dropped ceiling, the original tin ceiling was right there waiting for us. And we worked with some great local talent on the design
Kingston Social is a beautiful cafe, mercantile, and gallery space located right across the street from the Ulster County Office Building.
and build of the space.” Scott Dutton of Dutton Architecture did the plans and provided a 3D virtual reality rendering of the space, and Michele Harrington and Kris Stephenson of Chestnut Street Design & Construction, Inc. were responsible for the design and build. “We found some original paneling and hardware, and preserved what we could.” Found in the ceiling: a 1925 Kingston Daily Freeman advertising “frocks” for $18.95.
Workers from the county offices and surrounding businesses have adopted this as the best spot for a coffee break, and much of the reason can be found in the culinary vision of Palazzi, whose Italian and Swedish roots inform the selection of coffee and baked goods—and the vibes.
“Growing up in Sweden, we had this pervasive tradition of fika, which involves taking breaks together during the day for coffee or tea and something sweet,” she says. “Then in Italy, of course, we have all the fine pastries and coffees. I’m a photographer and an artist, so during lean times, I got a lot of restaurant experience in a lot of places.”
All three owners get together to taste coffees and pastries before bringing them to the public, and Palazzi is happy with the chosen signature bean. “People ask us what flavors of coffee we have, and we tell them, ‘We have coffee,’” she says. “Traditional Italian coffee, which means nice cappuccino and espresso that don’t really need flavored syrups added. We serve Tostini, which is a fairly young brand from Naples that’s competing well with the big 100-year-old producers.
The pastries are from a bakery that was founded in Milano in 1946—they have a distributor here in the US and we work with them to get our supply and finish off the baking here, so you get freshly baked pastries every day.” The mercantile is Daly’s specialty. “In my sourcing and merchandising, I’m guided by thinking about the different rooms in your home—the child’s room, the playroom, the kitchen, and dining room,” she says.
“I think I’m achieving the goal: a beautiful, modern mercantile full of gifts and goods. Some things are locally made, others from England and across the world. I’ve always been drawn to what I think of as classic modern, as opposed to trendy modern: lovely things that will add value to life and stand the test of time. We have a nice cross section of things for different age groups, from the smallest children on up, with art and design sensibilities that the whole family can love. I went out of my way to curate a selection that’s complementary to our neighbors and friends in the neighborhood shops, rather than competing—I deliberately source things that aren’t already represented in Kingston.”
Wrapping it all together is the vibe: a place where you can enjoy art, warmth, and friendliness, whether you’re seeking a quiet spot to get a little work done, a casual first date, or a place to meet up with your fellow parents. There’s a play area in the back with art supplies for the youngsters, so that Mom (or Dad) can focus on a friend or a work task; browse among the tableware, tote bags, wool blankets, and sunglasses; or peruse the local honey, jam, and syrup.
“People ask us what flavors of coffee we have, and we tell them, ‘We have coffee.’ Traditional Italian coffee, which means nice cappuccino and espresso that don’t really need flavored syrups added.” - co-owner Helena Palazzi
Surrounding it all is the art. Pinkwater, which had already been winning hearts (and a 2023 Chronogrammy award) for its life-enhancing offerings and down-to-earth sensibilities, has relocated and expanded here. Here too, the idea is to collaborate, not duplicate. “We’re offering classes for people who are maybe thinking about enrolling at the Woodstock School of Art but find it a bit intimidating, or maybe just want to bring some creativity into their lives,” says Sanger. “You don’t have to aspire to being the next Picasso—you can come here and just get a feel for working with the materials, mixing colors, the basics. And I’ve been talking to fellow gallery owners—our idea is to band together and really elevate the reality of Kingston as a vibrant arts destination. We have a lot to offer around here, whether you’re a day tripper, a collector from Westchester, or a local looking for art for your home.”
Art galleries, Sanger says, can feel intimidating to people who’d actually thrive in art-filled surroundings; Kingston Social is a portal to that joy, and a place to build community. “Come in for a gelato, stay and chat with a new friend, get caught up in the work on the walls,” she says. “It all goes really well together.”
kingston social
237 Fair Street, Kingston
845-202-0078
kingstonsocialny.com
