Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup a retro diner, upper midscale hotel, expanded Stewart’s Shop, and new tourism center are all part of the Greene Industrial Development Agency's plans for Route 23B. The IDA began work on a 60-acre business park on Route 23B near New York State Thruway Exit 21 in 2017, securing eight parcels, completing an environmental impact statement, and mitigating sensitive archaeological areas in order to attract new businesses. Now, the IDA is announcing the first tenant, Bell Jar Holdings Co., in the Exit 21 West business park. Bell Jar Holdings acquired a 1.7-acre parcel with plans to rehabilitate the existing garage on the site and add a 1950s diner as a second building. The garage will be converted into a gourmet food market and the 1950s diner will open as a bar serving local beers and cocktails. The new owners, Dennis Kanuk and Rhianon Jones say, “We look forward to creating a welcoming space for locals and visitors alike to get a taste of the best the Catskills and the Hudson Valley have to offer.” Additional land is available in the park and is being prepared for future development. The IDA is constructing a new access road, will extend water and sewer lines, and is getting the site ready for three pads. One of those pads is dedicated to a new 80-room upper midscale hotel. The IDA recently signed a term sheet with Windsor Hospitality Management and Southern Realty and Development to build and operate a Hampton Inn by Hilton. Greene County Legislative Chairman Patrick Linger said the county is quite pleased with the hotel agreement. Stewart’s Shops has also signed a contract to purchase land in the Exit 21 East business park to relocate and build a new retail store. The new Stewart's will be located at the current site of the Greene County Tourism Center. The Tourism Center will be torn down to allow a new Stewart’s to be built. The existing Stewart’s will be renovated to house a new Tourism Visitor Center. The IDA set aside the funds to help with the construction of the center and Stewart’s will donate the building. Eric Hoglund, chairman of the Greene IDA Board, said to expect shovels in the ground in early spring 2023 and lots of construction activity at both sites. Read more at porcupinesoup [dot] com.