Putney Food Co-op expands
The Putney Food Coop (Putneycoop.com) broke ground on Aug. 6 for a nearly $1 million expansion. Robyn O’Brien, the general manager of the Co-op, reports, “We’ve been looking forward to this time for what feels like forever and we’re all thrilled that our success means we’ve run out of space. When construction is completed on the Deli in early December, we’ll have a vastly expanded cafe area, completely new and renovated kitchen, two new additional bathrooms, a cash register solely for the Deli, Hot Bar and Salad Bar, and even more outdoor seating to enjoy.”
The Co-op first opened in 1941 when fuel shortages due to World War II made it hard to obtain certain grocery items, and is one of the oldest food cooperatives in the country. To accommodate the growing needs of the community the Co-op membership voted in 1992 to move the store from its original site on Kimball Hill to its present location on Route 5 and Carol Brown Way. Boasting more than 1,600 members, the Co-op is a community owned market and delicatessen offering a diverse selection of quality products with a commitment to natural, organic and local foods. Architect for the expansion is Greenberg Associates Architects and builder is GPI Construction from Brattleboro.
Wunderbar arrives in Bellows Falls
Located at 22 Rockingham St., in a space that’s been vacant for two years, Wunderbar (Wunderbarvt.com) takes its inspiration from Bavarian beer gardens but brings the outdoor experience inside with beautiful plants and an artsy eclectic interior. Along with “all of the great beer Vermont, New England, and the world has to offer,” they boast a great selection of craft cocktails and wine as well as a tasty tapas-centric menu. And, yea, it’s a place that stays open late for folks to enjoy after the movie or events at the Bellows Falls Opera House next door. The three owners—Remy Walker, Alain Martinez and Gabriele Soyka—have spent time in Germany (Gabriele is from there; Remy and Alain joined from Miami) to fine tune and bring the best of the beer garden vibe to Bellows Falls. Music and dancing round out the experience, along with its hipster vibe.
Camping made easy
The folks at Green Mountain Tourism (good2gocamping.com) have come up with a camping fix. One of the biggest obstacles to camping that people complain about is all the equipment and gear they have to lug to their campsite and then setup once they arrive. Good2GoCamping takes away the hassle. They’ll deliver one of their unique and boutique, up‑cycled pop‑up campers directly to your campsite and set it up for you to enjoy. They say these babies come fully loaded and ready for some serious glamping. They provide cookware and dishes, bath and beach towels, freshly cleaned bed linens and pillows, camp chairs, an outdoor rug, flashlights/lanterns, games, and even umbrellas in case it rains. They also stock these campers with starter provisions like snacks, breakfast fixin’s, and s’mores ingredients. So if you’ve always wanted to experience the wonders of camping, but felt too overwhelmed by it all, check them out.
