Lander to open new restaurant in Callicoon

By TOM KANE

CALLICOON, NY — The hamlet that has been called the dining capital of Sullivan County has a new restaurant opening soon.

	TRR photo by Tom Kane A bulldozer prepares for the laying of the foundation at Lander's River Cafe site on A. Dorrer Drive. (Click for larger image)

Lander’s River Café will be attached to the existing Lander’s River Mart convenience store on A. Dorrer Drive and is expected to open in mid-July.

Callicoon, which has had as many as four fine-dining restaurants, saw two of them close this past year—Michele’s on Lower Main and Lisa’s Autumn Inn on Upper Main.

A few weeks ago, the sale of the former Callicoon Saloon was announced, along with word that it will become a lunch and dinner restaurant.

“I think there’s a need in Callicoon for a family-type restaurant that will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner where there is sufficient parking,” said owner Rick Lander.

The Depot on Lower Main Street doesn’t serve dinner.

“The restaurant, which will seat 100, will wrap around the convenience store on two sides and have windows looking out on the river,” he said. “It should be very nice.”

It’s the kind of place where you can take your kids without spending a lot of money, he said.

“What I like about it is that it’s an all-year-round business, as compared to the canoe livery, which is only 18 weeks,” Lander said.

Lander’s River Café will employ about 26 people, he said.