Restaurant Road Returns, Plus Local Vets Honored
And extended comics, Jumble
We’ll merge back on Restaurant Road in a moment, but first let’s recognize three local veterans who recently were honored with a Patriot Flight to DC…
On Wednesday, April 23, three area residents participated in the Capital District Region Patriot Flight which honors veterans of WWII, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Don Campofranco (Salem), Robert Sellar (Argyle), and Charles Farringer (Salem) were among the nearly 50 veterans who participated in this amazing experience. Don Campofranco served proudly in the United States Coast Guard, Robert Sellar was in the Medical Corps serving as an Orderly in Portsmouth, NH, and army veteran, Charles Farringer, rose to the rank of Captain serving in Vietnam. Organized by Sean Lyons, President of Patriot Flight Inc., the Capital Region Patriot Flight flew the veterans to Washington, D.C. where they visited the war monuments including the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial as well as the Coast Guard and Air Force Memorials. The experience also included a visit to the Arlington National Cemetery where they saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier – an emotional experience for all who witnessed it. The long day ended with a dinner provided by the American Legion before flying back to Albany for a home coming ceremony. Patriot Flight Inc. strives to provide veterans with the “Welcome Home” experience they never received due to the intense antiwar fervor of the day. They greatly succeeded in providing our local veterans with a memorable day that will be cherished.
Restaurant Road: Part IV: For people on the go
By Mary Green
Journal & Press
“Signs,” a protest song from 1970 by Five Man Electric Band, was a favorite for many of us born before 1960. Traveling around Greenwich to interview restaurant owners, the song is my earworm. It’s a good one, and likewise restaurant signs are unique in the village. In this issue I will highlight some of those signs, and while keeping with a theme, I will also focus on the restaurants themselves, some on wheels and some in well-established locations.
The cooperation that exists in Greenwich between eateries expanded to a small brewery in Ottawa, Canada when Chris Castrio was informed that he could not be served the beer he ordered because it had too much foam. “Oh, do you want me to look at your tap?” Chris asked. “Are you serious? Of course!” the bartender replied. Chris, the owner of Argyle Brewery in Greenwich lept behind the bar and fixed the tap. “I got my beer!” he said. Likewise, when Chris admired a beer engine at the Castlerock Brewery in Nottingham, England, the owner of the brewery ushered him to the rear of the establishment, showing him a smaller version of the same engine. A deal was hatched, the small beer engine was dismantled, and Chris added it to his luggage. Today, Chris is proud to introduce visitors to this well-traveled addition to the Argyle Brewery.
Chris, his wife Cathi Radner, along with business partner and brewer Richard Thomas, opened Argyle Brewery in Greenwich eleven years ago. “Rich is the brew-master, and also a beekeeper,” Chris said. “Rollin in Gravy” will be parked at the Argyle Brewery on various weekend evenings throughout the summer. Neatly tucked in at the eastern end of the village, the Argyle Brewery provides a few outdoor tables and a small stage not far from the banks of the Battenkill River.
There were two generations enjoying lunch at Panda, the only Chinese restaurant in Greenwich. Annalise Nash and Zachary Knobel from Argyle, along with baby Eliana, enjoyed lunch at Panda on a chilly afternoon in early April. “We like the food here and the dining room,” Zachary said. Three month old Eliana also appeared to enjoy the experience. It’s likely that generations of Eliana’s family have patronized Panda over the years. Waitstaff Nicole Lin most recently worked in Chicago, but prefers Greenwich. “It is safe here, quiet, and people are very friendly,” she said. “The snow makes business slow, but it is better now,” she added. Nicole Lin explained that business booms on our national holidays. “Everyone else is closed, so we do well on those holidays. We get very busy,” she said.
Jason and Kim Darfler met a couple of decades ago while working at The Greenwich House of Pizza. Today, they own Jay’s Pizza in Greenwich, which offers an extensive menu of pizza, subs, pasta dishes and salads. Although Jay studied auto mechanics after high school, he is passionate about his journey in the restaurant business. Opening Jay’s Pizza in 2018, Jay and Kim weathered covid by delivering orders to businesses and homes, and meeting patrons in the parking lot. “Today I am delivering to car dealerships and other businesses in Greenwich, Schuylerville and Argyle,” Jay said. In 2020 Jay purchased a trailer that allows him to serve pizza and other menu items at birthday celebrations, graduations, and weddings. Jay’s Pizza boasts a new and colorful sign, which Jay says “we really needed!” Shaped like a pepperoni pizza, it stands out. WIth most of his staff, and Kim standing below the sign, it’s obvious that this smiling band of pizza slingers is enjoying the new sign as well.
A mix of retail and restaurant, Clutch Market and General Store on Main Street in Greenwich is the brainchild of the Graves family. Operated by Haley Graves and her brother Collin, it is apparent that everyone in the family has a part to play in this venture. “Retail never sleeps,” says Haley. “I knew this would be alot of work. It’s both rewarding and challenging,” she added. The shop is adorned with a tin ceiling and beautiful cabinets. Their father Tom contributed to the restoration of the building, along with the talents of Trevett Millworks of Greenwich. “My mother is an interior decorator, so she designed the shop. My father is an extra hand here, helping Collin in the kitchen,” Haley explained. A beautiful glass cabinet greets visitors as they enter the shop. Haley explains, “We bought it from Just Meats around the corner when they closed. We aren’t moving it again. It’s so heavy!”
Nancy Morrison of Greenwich stopped in for an egg and homemade biscuit sandwich on her lunch break. “It’s convenient to come here for lunch. My mother-in-law and her friends visit Clutch after their exercise routine at the library,” Nancy said.
“My parents are on the road alot discovering local makers,” Haley said. Currently, local artisans at Clutch include Battenkill Botanicals, Easton Station Farms, and Slate Valley Farms. Haley and her husband Ethan Gori live above the store while they renovate their home on Gray Avenue. “We are never too far away,” Haley said. Offering a variety of locally made gifts and gift baskets, Clutch also serves lunch specials, including burrito bowls and pulled pork sandwiches. “We are closed on Monday and Tuesday. But on those days we are ordering products and paying bills, so we are always busy!” Haley said.
The Rolling Radish food truck is owned and operated by Joe and Karin Radovich of Easton. Their three children, Joseph Jr., Sarah, and Gabriel help with the business, which opened in 2018. It’s a busy life for this family, with all three children active in extracurricular pursuits at Greenwich Central School. Nonetheless, the entire family can be found manning the food truck on many weekend evenings: prepping, cooking, and taking orders over the phone. Joseph Jr. takes orders from customers and ducks his head while Gabriel hands a to-go order out of the window. Sarah keeps busy helping her parents manage the grill. When told his order would take 45 minutes, young Silas Quillen said, “that’s ok!” His mother Lindsay also agreed to wait. “They have a delicious reuben and I especially like their eggrolls,” Lindsay said. Joe Radovich agreed that the night was extremely busy, and said, “I am grateful that people will wait for their orders. They can call ahead too,” he added.
Dessert is available from the Radovich family as well, with the addition of their ice cream truck. “There are alot of options for hard ice cream, so we offer soft ice cream treats,” Joe explained. Their ‘OPEN’ sign is unique, and when asked about the sign, Joe said, “I made it myself!” It’s the size of a small toaster, but it’s unique and eye-catching for anyone looking for a bite to eat and some ice cream.
‘Restaurant Road’ is winding down with the fifth installment under construction. Stay tuned as I tuck my hair up under my hat and venture outside of the villages of Schuylerville and Greenwich to interview more village eateries, along with some on our outskirts. I will also look for a new song to accompany me on my journey. ‘The Long and Winding Road’ sounds like a possibility.
And Now for the Comics — and the Jumble!
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