Terry Cowgill

Trending Toward Cheffrey’s?

June 3, 2006 on 1:23 pm | In Local, Main |

A terrific new eatery opened over Memorial Day weekend on Route 44 in between Lakeville and Salisbury. That in itself isn’t big news, but I hope it signals a welcome trend toward businesses that keep local residents from fleeing to other towns for their needs.

Standing around watching my son’s baseball game a couple of weeks ago and gabbing with some of the other parents, I got into a revealing conversation about the business community in the town of Salisbury.

There is a prevailing sentiment among many full-time residents that there simply aren’t enough businesses to support the needs of those of us who live here all the time. One parent decried a lack of “useful businesses.” I think she hit the nail on the head.

There are more art galleries (four), real estate brokerages (11) and gift/antique shops than you can shake a stick at. Nothing wrong with those places, but locals like me don’t flock there. I like art, for example, but can’t afford to buy any. I own a home but am not in the market for another. If I want to buy a gift or some sweat socks, I usually go to Millerton or Canaan, where I can find plenty of practical alternatives that suit my budget. If I want something to eat, there aren’t many affordable options in Lakeville/Salisbury.

Cheffrey’s Off Main (the headline was spelled incorrectly in my article on its opening) will be “useful” and its owners, while welcoming weekenders, are clearly marketing to the local crowd. Dana and Jeffrey Scarpa hope to make Cheffrey’s a community hangout by offering home-cooked and reasonably priced breakfasts and lunches. Cheffrey’s also offers dinners to go for those busy parents, like my friend at the game (and me), who after a long day at work find themselves unprepared for the evening family meal. The Scarpas, who themselves have two young children, will as a rule not open the restaurant for supper. They actually want to have a life.

Bravo and good luck!

P.S. I was the very first customer at Cheffrey’s to order a sandwich to go (turkey on a pita w/ lettuce, tomato, onions and honey mustard). It was delicious, cost $7.95 and included lattice-cut fries, which miraculously enough were still warm and crispy by the time I got back to the office.