“We like to say we’re serving summer, whatever way you want it.” - Mike DePoala, chef/owner
Frozen drinks. Patio seating. Fresh Jane’s Homemade or Hershey’s ice cream. Summer in Saugerties is Stella’s Station season, and 2024 is looking like the best one yet.
“We’ve redone the back patio,” says chef/owner Mike DePoala, “and added fire pits and some backyard games like corn hole and a concrete ping pong table. We do all kinds of frozen beverages: mudslides, daiquiris, margaritas, frozen blueberry lemonade, and Miami Vices—that’s half strawberry daiquiri and half pina colada. We also just added a whole section of nonalcoholic beers and mocktails to the menu. We like to say we’re serving summer, whatever way you want it.”
They’re also serving burgers, steamers, sandwiches, and salads—simple summer fare made with Culinary Institute flair. (Mike’s a grad.) And over the 12 years of Stella’s summers, they’ve focused on doing what people love at a price they can afford. “We know folks are struggling with the economy right now, and it's so important for us to keep our prices reasonable,” says Debbie DePoala, who handles Stella’s social media and marketing and runs communications for a global anti-hunger organization—and is Mike’s wife. “Even if folks maybe can't go out to eat as often, can't get that extra appetizer, we want to make sure they can have the experience. It's so important to get out and socialize.”
“We know folks are struggling with the economy right now, and it's so important for us to keep our prices reasonable.” - Debbie DePoala
You can do that in fine style here. Last summer, Stella’s Station began what will now be a fresh tradition: theme nights with DJ and dancing. “We had a Hawaiian night, a 90s night—the turnout was incredible,” says Debbie. “So you can expect a lot more of that. Follow our socials—we put the specials and the events on Facebook and Instagram.”
Even on a regular evening, there’s something about the vibe here that’s pure Saugerties. “There’s so many more tourists, and so many more folks leaving the city life and moving upstate for more nature, more of the small-town vibe,” says Mike. “We welcome them and appreciate their business, and we're constantly amazed at how much of our local community comes out and supports not just Stella’s, but really all the small businesses in town. We have a ton of regulars, and we’re loving how the tourist and newcomer community is really meshing with the longtime locals.”
“We're constantly amazed at how much of our local community comes out and supports not just Stella’s, but really all the small businesses in town.” – Mike DePoala
As seasonal hosts, they relish each spring’s arrival, saying hello all over again and reuniting with their crew, about half of whom have been at Stella’s since the start. “We were just marveling at it, today, how supportive this community is,” says Debbie. “We’re both just turning 40 now, we have little kids, and it’s wonderful to live in a town that does so much—the car show, the Saugerties Stallions games. The way people take care of each other. We watch their kids grow, they’ll be watching ours…The little one has just now figured out that Mommy and Daddy own an ice cream stand.”
stella's station
150 Partition St, Saugerties
845-246-5998
stellasstation.com
