As our summer residents and visitors exit the Thruway and turn left onto Route 299, drive down through the village and across the river to enjoy all that west of the Wallkill has to offer, we might remind them that there are also plenty of fun things to do east of the Wallkill. Consider the Ohioville Marketplace.
On the edge of the Marketplace, at 15 Old Route 299, is Ohioville Consignment, operated by Salvatore Tantillo. The store represents the third generation of entrepreneurship and is an important part of New Paltz history given that Salvatore’s grandfather, Joe, began operating the New Paltz General Store at this location around 1938. The original store included a butcher shop and SOCONY gas station. Prior to that, the building housed a post office. Salvatore’s mom and dad, Fawn and Anthony Tantillo, later operated a popular sporting goods store there, and their son is now the proud owner of an authorized eBay Drop Off location and treasure trove of things old and new.
If you picked up an item years ago at an estate sale or flea market because there was just something about it that you liked, but now wonder if it might be worth something, Salvatore can help you evaluate it. I entrusted some old coins and stamps to his keen eye and mastery of the on-line auction domain and have been very happy with the result. I enjoyed the process of sitting down with him, having each item reviewed, and receiving his recommendation about the most likely way to reap the maximum benefit from the sale of my items. You can call and make an appointment for an evaluation. Salvatore’s foray into the on-line auction domain began when he was eight years old and first began to place items on eBay for friends and relatives. Today this 28-year-old entrepreneur and graduate of New Paltz High School and SUNY New Paltz (business program), with the help of his proprietary software, can pretty much peg the current going price of anything from a Waterford vase to an antique toy to a previously attic-bound collection of Barry Manilow records.
Recently, a customer brought in an ornate but badly tarnished five-tier serving tray, hoping it might be worth a few dollars. Salvatore polished the tray, revealing the obscured hallmarks, and determined that the piece was 80% pure silver. He told the customer that the four-pound item would be worth $1,200 if sold for its silver content but that, auctioned on eBay, it might fetch more. The customer decided to try his luck on eBay and was very happy with the final bid of $3,600. Even after the 20% fee for an item in that price range was deducted, the delighted customer still made more than double the amount he would have if he had sold the item simply for its precious metal value.
Items valued below $50 or which are too bulky to ship to realize a profit, are held for at least 60 days, which is why the store is well worth a visit every few weeks. There is always something new to look at. Dana, the young lady behind the counter on the most recent day I stopped in, explained that there is at least a 30% turnover of items, ranging from everything to musical instruments (guitars are a specialty), gold and silver coins, Hummel figurines and old cameras.
Afterwards, you can go next door and browse through the large selection of refinished furniture at the Poverty Barn, which opened just a year ago. New items come in to the store each week, are repaired and painted and put out on the floor (or outside, weather permitting). You will find an assortment of reasonably priced items, including dressers, chests, coffee tables and chairs. This store is well worth a visit.
Continue onto North Ohioville Road, just 0.2 miles down on the left, and pick up a plant at Taylor’s Greenhouses. Come back to the Marketplace and buy a sandwich at the Country Farms Deli and, if so inclined, a bottle of wine at the liquor store next door, and head for your favorite picnic spot. If it’s too muggy that day to enjoy eating outside, you might consider crossing over Route 299 to the College Diner and enjoy eating in the air conditioning. If you’re partial to lentil soup, schedule your visit for a Wednesday for some of the best in town.
The blue envelope
Last week, thousands of New Paltz and Gardiner residents received a blue envelope in the mail from the New Paltz Community Foundation (NPCF). The mailing represents the largest outreach to date for this non-profit community assistance and improvement organization and provides an opportunity for members of our generous community to support the Foundation’s largest project to date: the complete upgrade and renovation of the Family of New Paltz walk-in crisis center and food pantry building at 51 North Chestnut Street.
The Foundation needs only an additional $40,000 to reach its goal of raising $122,000 to complete the building renewal. With no employees, the members of the board of directors donate their time and energy free of charge, knowing only that they have been a catalyst and conduit for good things happening in our town.
If you haven’t yet received your envelope, all the information you will need to make a donation is available on the NPCF website, www.newpaltzfoundation.org. All donors will be recognized on the website while the names of those contributing $500 or more will also be placed on a plaque to be installed at the completion of the renovation inside Family’s building, but even the very smallest contribution will be appreciated. Please consider helping.