“This place is more to me than just a business,” he said. “This place has been my home for 15 years now.”
‘A black eye’
Meanwhile, due to an infrastructure issue no businessperson, no matter how canny or clairvoyant, can plan for, a neighborhood fixture wanes. “[DiBella’s] is like going to Grandma’s for Sunday dinner,” said worker Jodie Esposito. “We know all of our customers’ names and they all know ours.”
Gary Welch transitioned from neighbor to customer to friend to chosen family over the years course, and laments for DiBella’s losses. Welch pointed out that normally during the lunch hour the dining room would be packed. Now, he says, crickets. “[DiBella] has always treated everyone like a friend — not a customer,” said Welch. “Washington Avenue is the second or third busiest road inKingston. As a taxpayer, it’s deplorable that it has to be this way. It really gives Kingston a black eye — it looks like a third-world country.”
Welch recalled the inconvenience when they city had to shut down the water supply for several days during the sinkhole repairs, and reminded DiBella of how he had to schlep water with him to the restaurant every day.
According to DiBella, the city has assured him communication, support and more signage to help confused customers. “I’m surprised, even with all of the media, that people don’t seem to know that Washington Avenue is closed.”
To order from DiBella’s, call (845) 339-9900.
I lived on Washington Ave, right by DiBella’s Pizzaria last year, when the first round of road closings was dumped upon the neighborhood.
We woke up to no running water, not to drink, not to shower, not to flush the toilet. It was middle of the week, and a workday for most people. We were given no warning before the city shut it off, and were told (very rudely I might add) when we called that it could be a few hours, or a few days before it was turned back on. No one had any sympathy and acted as if we were out of line for asking questions and looking for answers.
When DiBella’s business began to suffer, the city turned their nose up at the small business owner, caring little to nothing that a good man was losing his livelihood. Now, although they may be providing more signs to help people navigate the despicable situation they’ve created on Washington Ave, the city is no closer to figuring out when they will get their act together.
The road has been barricaded for 2 months now, not a few weeks. In that 2 months, there hasn’t been a single city worker actually WORKING at this location. Each time I go by, anyone I see employees of the city standing around, making merry with their friends and co workers, on their phones sitting on the curb, leaning against a truck… But, not a bit of work has actually been done to get closer to opening Washington Ave back up.
It’s a bit disgusting how little Kingston City cares about bankrupting such a long-standing local business.