The Callicoon Pantry Begins New Chapter at Former Catskill Provisions Space

CALLICOON, N.Y. – At 16 Upper Main Street in Callicoon, one chapter closes as another begins.

After a six-year run operating the beloved Catskills Provisions, owner and head distiller Claire Marin has sold the building to The Callicoon Pantry, the local low-waste grocer and refillery, as the business prepares to expand.

Marin says she was first captivated by the town of Callicoon’s charm back in 2003. “My wife, Cathy Leidersdorff, brought me here for the first time, and I totally fell in love,” said Marin. 

Catskills Provisions opened in 2020 as the home of Pollinator Spirits, the honey barrel whiskey and craft spirits operation, and soon became a gathering place and tasting room for residents and visitors. But juggling the various endeavors with a small team became increasingly challenging in 2024, and Marin began considering a transition.

Now, Marin has sold the building to The Callicoon Pantry, which plans to become the one-stop local grocery store that owner Dania LaScola says customers have been asking for since the Pantry’s inception.

LaScola opened The Callicoon Pantry in 2019 at the Callicoon Marketplace on Main Street. Since then, the Pantry has grown from a 200-square-foot bulk refillery to an 800-square-foot community staple slinging low-waste grocery items, local produce, prepared meals, and other assortments.

Its next chapter, though, will require some extra room. 

“We’ve just really maxxed out every single square inch,” said LaScola. “If you come into the pantry today, you know that all of our shelves are stocked. We have no back stock beyond what you see on the floor.”

Marin with Pollinator Spirits says she’s especially elated to turn hands over from one queer-owned couple to another.  “We all love them and what they’ve been doing already.”

The Callicoon Pantry’s expanded space will offer a wider selection of pantry staples, shelf-stable items, more community space, and a new counter service addition: Day’s Sandwiches and Smoothies, owned by local chef Dayna Halprin.

Halprin plans to offer a selection of vegetable-forward and hot grilled sandwiches, fruit smoothies, and other breakfast and lunch menu items. 

“I can’t wait to be more of a foundational piece in Callicoon and cook good food for the community, have some healthy options and really get going there,” said Halprin, who brings nearly two decades of culinary and food education experience.

The business transition has been nearly half a year in the making, and both the former and new owners say they can’t wait for what the future of 16 Upper Main Street holds.

“I want to have a place where people can come, feel like they don’t need to spend a dime, but have a very warm and loving place to hang out, and if you want to grab a snack while you’re at it, that’s what we’re here for,” said La Scola. “We really want it to be open for everyone.”

The Callicoon Pantry plans to reopen at 16 Upper Main Street in Callicoon on September 12, with Day’s Sandwiches and Smoothies fully open in Spring 2027. Pollinator Spirits will continue to operate its wildflower honey and distillery operation in Long Eddy.

Image: Dania LaScola, owner of The Callicoon Pantry, in front of its new building (Photo Credit: The Callicoon Pantry)