DECEMBER 2017
Jeffersonville rebirth continuing with rebuilding of a landmark office Matt Shortall photo
This is the scene during the recent demolition of the Jacob "Jay" Epstein Law Office, which was a Main St., Jeffersonville landmark for decades.
INSIDE: President’s Message
4E
IDA helping Ag
6E
Visitors Assn. wins big
9E
HVC & DKI expand services
10E
Partnership welcomes new board members
12E
Real Estate Market update
18E
Paid Family Leave explained
19E
YO1 to open in 2018
20E
County projects get $$ 22E STORY AND PHOTOS BY RICH KLEIN
t’s been said not to mix business with pleasure. But sometime in 2018, when a café/bakery will open on Main Street across from the firehouse and First Presbyterian church here, it will be a business with a romantic backstory for owners Lauren Seikaly and husband Michael Huber. Seikaly and Huber most recently transformed the former Mullally’s Pub into Tavern on Main, which opened to great fanfare last month. On that site, they also have Sprinkle’s Ice Cream parlor and 52 & Vine liquor store. And while the interior of Tavern was being constructed over the summer, they opened a beer garden in the back. The new café building will be erected on the site of the house and law office that for
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years was owned by attorney Jacob ‘Jay’ Epstein, who died a decade ago of a sudden heart attack. But in that very building in 2002, Seikaly and Huber closed on their purchase of their first Sullivan County Catskills’ weekend home, in Ferndale, with Epstein as their attorney. “We pulled up on the day of closing and parked the car right out front of his office front window,” Seikaly said. “Halfway through signing papers, Michael jumped up and ran to the car with no explanation. I found out later he was sweating bullets about the engagement ring he had left in the trunk.” And after signing the closing documents in that office, Huber proposed to Seikaly the same day at their new home.
Please see JEFFERSONVILLE, page 5E
Rich Klein photo
The site of the former Epstein Law building on Route 52 that will be the future home of a cafe in Jeffersonville.