The Common Good, a general-interest bookstore and bar, has opened in Ellenville, N.Y., Chronogram reported.
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| Matthew Goldman | |
Located at 119 Canal St., the Common Good debuted with a soft opening on October 20 followed by a full opening on October 24 and a grand opening party on Halloween. The book selection features titles for all ages across a variety of genres, with owner Matthew Goldman noting that the store has a particularly strong history section.
The bar, which is meant to resemble a British pub, serves a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including specialty cocktails, coffee, and tea, along with food items like sandwiches, meat and cheese boards, and salads.
The combined bookstore and bar can seat between about 35 people, and Goldman plans to host plenty of community events, including author talks, open mics, bar trivia, and history classes for adults. The bookstore has also sponsored a film during this year's first-ever Borscht Belt Film Fest, and served as the VIP lounge for the makers of the film, Welcome to Kutsher's: The Last Catskills Resort.
Touching on the name, Goldman told Chronogram: "It's obviously a little playful, because we're selling goods, but it's also what I want the store to be about. We're a very isolated, hyper-individualistic society at the moment. There are fewer and fewer times we come together, acting in accord for the broader interests of a community. I want to recreate the concept that there is a common good."
Prior to opening Common Good, Goldman worked as a teacher, a bookseller, and a musician. While he is not originally from the Ellenville area, he has a long connection with the Catskills, having gone there on family vacations many times. He remarked: "This place holds a very important place in my heart and family history, so building [the bookstore] here is special."