We all know there is no supermarket in Gardiner. You must drive to Modena, New Paltz or other nearby areas for that. The good news is that there are great options for grocery shopping at wonderful family-owned businesses right here, which is especially appealing if you don’t have time for crowded supermarket aisles and lines at the checkout.
Mountain Harbor Deli
At the Mountain Harbor Deli, at the intersection of Routes 44/55 and 299, you are greeted by a cheerful young lady named Maggie, who prepares sandwiches and breakfast foods, for “a mix of locals, tourists and, specifically, climbers.” They have a tremendous variety of hot and cold beverages including coffee, cold sodas and domestic, imported and craft beers.
They also sell peanut butter, jelly, pasta and pasta sauces, milk, eggs, butter, orange juice, and some fresh veggies. Gardiner native and manager, Ken Formisano, says they will slice cheeses and meats to take home. (Call first; 845-633-8705) Open 6:30am to 6:00pm daily.
A bit further along Route 299, near the intersection of Yankee Folly Road, Jenkins-Lueken Orchards has what appears to be a typical farm stand. But enter the rather plain white building, and you step into a meticulously decorated country store brimming with mostly local groceries.
This includes Oscar’s Smoke House brand ham, bacon, and sausages, to name just a few, as well as dips, spreads, cheeses, eggs, milk, jams, maple syrup, pickled products, and Jenkins-Leukin’s own baked goods.
They also offer a large selection of quality local meats to throw on the barbecue or into the oven. Lisa Dishek, who has worked at Jenkins-Leukin for 11 years, said that many of their customers are locals, although in the fall, tourists stop by in increasing numbers. It’s open from 9:00am to 6:00pm daily, with extended hours during the harvest season.
Village Market
Right in the middle of the Hamlet, at 125 Main Street, is the Village Market and Eatery. It has a limited supply of customer-favorite groceries, including chai tea, almond milk, dairy milk, half and half, eggs, butter, cream cheese, and a wide selection of beer, soda and bottled water. They also have an extensive eat-in/take-out menu and are open from 7:00am to 4:00pm.
Nothing says more about living in farm country than a general store with a group of locals on the porch discussing the day’s events. Ireland Corners General Store, on Route 208 just north of Route 44/55, is just that. It’s like a mini supermarket, its aisles stocked with a wide variety of canned foods, health related products, laundry and barbecue supplies, salad dressings and pasta, just to name a few. Additionally, they have one of the largest selections of soft drinks and beer in the town, and their deli counter makes all kinds of sandwiches. An employee proudly told me they are open 365 days a year from 6:00am to 9:00pm. 845-255-8883.
It’s 3:00am, you need laundry detergent, corn flakes, a hat or allergy relief medicine. The Chestnut Mobil Mart gas station and grocery/deli, on the southwest corner of Routes 208 and 44/55 is where you need to go.
Feras, a member of the owner’s family, proudly told me, “we are the only grocery open 24 hours a day in Gardiner.”
They stock much beyond food, including things like motor oil, work gloves, paper goods, laundry products, some fresh fruits to complement a sandwich, a pharmacy rack for just about every ailment, and an electronics gadget rack just in case you lost your phone charger cable.
Additionally, they make sandwiches and have a tremendous variety of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. 845-255-2256.
There are also many farm stands, egg suppliers, herb growers, organic produce and meat producing farms. All are owned and operated by our hardworking neighbors who put in exceedingly long hours to provide us with a wide variety of groceries and fresh and preserved products. Why not make your next meal a locally sourced delight?