In spite of high taxes and hostile politicians, new business owners keep flocking to Hudson. Tonight marks the opening of Sherry Jo Williams’ new venture at 428 Warren Street, culture+commerce project (5-9 pm), along with the official opening of 3FortySeven at 347 Warren (natch, from 7-10 pm) with music by DJ Gio.
Also debuting on Memorial Day weekend is Red Chair on Warren at #606 (formerly of Peterborough, New Hampshire) featuring French and Belgian housewares and antiques. Meanwhile, Chris Lehrecke has expanded his shop across the street in a larger space at #415, Tortillaville is back open for the summer, and there are two new B&Bs on Front Street.
“This town is hopping,” said my friend Norma Ramos (a former administrative law judge specializing in environmental justice* issues) on Friday at Baba Louie’s, which was packed to the gills with organic pizza fans and their beaming kids. But what’s particularly striking is not just the quantity of new businesses, but the quality. For the most part, the additions to Hudson’s deep roster of attractions are not lame and pedestrian, but unique and intelligent. More on that topic to come soon.
* We had an interesting talk about EJ and how its is appropriated and misused for “old boy” purposes, for example in the cynical misuse of the concept in regards to the City of Hudson Waterfront.
