Business leaders are saying it's an example of Sullivan County's renaissance. Jackson Wang spoke with the owners of two new and diverse restaurants opening up on Liberty's Main Street.
LIBERTY, N.Y. -- Jerry Hartsfield says he's always dreamed about opening up a restaurant in Liberty.
“When I was a kid, Liberty was thriving," said Hartsfield, a co-owner of Liberty Caribbean Soul Food. "I used to come up here to visit. This was like the place to be. I want to bring that back. I want to be a part of bring that back.”
Friday, his dream became a reality when the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce helped cut the ribbon on Liberty Caribbean Soulfood.
The restaurant offers a mix of Caribbean Island and southern style dishes.
“I don’t think anybody else offers this kind of cuisine in the Sullivan County, so we’re always excited to have something new,” said Cathy Paty, President and CEO of Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce.
Something new has been springing up in Liberty a lot lately. Just a few weeks ago, Dhani's Curry Melt opened its doors. Another restaurant catering to people with diverse tastes.
“We take recipes that we find from anywhere, Mongolian recipes, Chinese recipes, and some classic American dishes, and we put our own little Indian curry twist on them,” said Tusher Abtahee, the manager at Dhani’s Curry Melt.
The Chamber of Commerce says with a casino coming to the area, it's a trend that will continue.
“I think we’re in a real pivotal time in Sullivan County," Paty said. "I think you’re going to start seeing more and more business pop up on Main streets, but also throughout the various communities in Sullivan County.”
The Chamber says it's working with other businesses that want to open up nearby, once the casino gets its license.
“They’re on the lookout for good commercial properties, so we of course work in tandem with the Partnership for Economic Development and the I.D.A.,” Paty said.
While these business owners say they're not gambling on the success of the casino, they say it certainly can't hurt.
“It will bring tourism here, it will bring potential customers, but we’ll see how it goes,” Abtahee said.
“Whether the casino is here or not, we still have to survive," Hartsfield said. "We still have to survive as business owners, as the community, and we have to get together and start helping each other.”